Jurgen Klopp has revealed details of Liverpool’s attempt to sign Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe is on the verge of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final after helping France edge past Morocco with a 2-0 win in Thursday’s quarter-final tie in Boston.
The Real Madrid forward could also eclipse Lionel Messi for the most non-penalty goals scored at the tournament after racking up his 20th in as many appearances.
But Mbappe was previously in contention for a move to Anfield during his time at Monaco before sealing a move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017.
He claimed in 2022 that he met with club officials due to it being ‘the favourite club’ of his mother Fayza Lamari prior to moving to the Parc des Princes.
Les Parisiens took the prodigious marksman on an initial loan before sealing a permanent transfer worth €180 million at the end of the 2017/18 season.
Klopp was 18 months into a nine-year spell as Reds’ manager when the chance to sign the 27-year-old arose and has disclosed how the pair’s meeting played out.
“With Mbappe, it was before he went to Paris,” he told Magenta TV.
“That was roughly €500m, the most expensive non-transfer we’ve ever made.
“We flew from Blackpool to Nice. In Nice, the whole Mbappe family boarded a private jet with five cabins.
“Then we flew around in circles, talked to the family, ate good food.
“We weren’t allowed to be seen. It was great – and then he went to Paris.”