​Jurgen Klopp has finally lifted the lid on just how far Liverpool went in their pursuit of Kylian Mbappé, detailing lengths the club were prepared to go to in their bid to lure the teenage prodigy to Anfield. The interest in the French forward traces back to 2016, when Mbappé had not yet signed pro terms with his then club, AS Monaco. That season, Mbappé produced a breakout campaign in 2016/17, bagging decisive goals that helped Monaco eliminate Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund on their route to the Champions League semi-finals, while also steering the club to the Ligue 1 title.
Liverpool’s pursuit was intense. The club allegedly went to extraordinary lengths, even arranging a private flight and coordinating the meeting with Mbappé’s family to discuss a potential move with Klopp. Klopp spoke about the episode with MagentaTV, describing it as “the most expensive non-transfer we invested in.” He revealed that the journey began with a flight from Blackpool to Nice, where Mbappé’s entire family boarded a private jet, a plane described as having five rooms or more. The team purportedly went to great lengths to remain unseen, circling in the air before landing to engage with the family, sharing meals, and presenting opportunities that would make a move possible. It was, Klopp recalled, “fantastic” for all involved, until Mbappé ultimately chose another path and headed to Paris.
Mbappé himself later disclosed in 2022 that he had spoken with Liverpool, driven by his mother’s strong affection for the club. “I talked to Liverpool because it’s the favourite club of my mum; my mum loves Liverpool,” he explained, noting that he wasn’t entirely sure why beyond his mother’s enthusiasm. Despite Liverpool’s ambitions and their ongoing interest, the club could not match the financial package on offer from Paris Saint-Germain, which prevented a deal from materializing at the time. Mbappé would continue to be linked with a move away from Monaco for several years, ultimately signing with Real Madrid in 2024 after leaving PSG. Even with the continued link to the France international, Liverpool’s pursuit did not culminate in a transfer.
This account adds a vivid, almost cinematic dimension to the broader narrative of Mbappé’s early career and the fevered speculation around his future at the time. It also underscores the extent to which top clubs are willing to go to secure a potential generational talent, especially when the player is still in the early stages of his development and the financial terms of a deal are pivotal. While Mbappé’s path took him to Paris and then Madrid, the tale remains a striking reminder of how close clubs can come to landing a player who would go on to redefine the modern game, and how decisions at the margins—financial terms, timing, and personal considerations—can determine the course of football history.