Plane flew in circles while talks with family took place
‘The most expensive non-transfer we’ve ever made’
Jürgen Klopp has revealed the impressive lengths Liverpool went to in their attempts to sign a teenage Kylian Mbappé from Monaco.
Liverpool were one of a number of top European clubs who tried to sign the forward when he emerged in a talented Monaco side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2016-17. He ultimately joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan in August 2017 before signing permanently for €180m the following year.
Liverpool’s interest was widely reported and Klopp has confirmed their approach previously. However, speaking on the German station Magenta TV after covering France’s World Cup quarter-final win over Morocco on Thursday, the former Liverpool manager gave an illuminating insight into his attempts to win over the Mbappé family before the move to Paris. The striker’s mother, Fayza Lamari, is a Liverpool fan.
“It’s extremely tough for me right now; I’ve already negotiated with three of their players and never got them,” said Klopp, speaking of Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni and possibly Manu Koné.
“With Mbappé, it was before he went to Paris. That was roughly €500m, the most expensive non-transfer we’ve ever made. We flew from Blackpool to Nice. In Nice, the whole Mbappé family boarded a private jet with five cabins. Then we flew around in circles and had a delicious meal. We weren’t allowed to be seen. It was great – and then he went to Paris.”
