‘Only one thing stopping £215m Mbappe signing for Liverpool’

Joe Williams
Kylian Mbappe Paris Saint-Germain

Former defender Stephen Warnock thinks that only the Ballon d’Or would get in the way of Liverpool signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.

Reports at the beginning of November linked Liverpool with a £215m move for the Frenchman, suggesting that the Reds’ lack of transfers this summer meant that the money was ready to spend in 2020.

Jurgen Klopp poured cold water on the claims at the time but Warnock has pondered why Mbappe wouldn’t sign for Liverpool.

“I just think because of the way Liverpool have elevated themselves in the last couple of years under Jurgen Klopp, people are now putting stories together linking them with the best players in the world,” Warnock told the Liverpool Echo.

“Let’s be honest, why wouldn’t they want to play under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool? The atmosphere is incredible and so is the manager.

“They have reached two Champions League finals in the last two seasons and a Europa League final not long before that. It’s very appealing to go to Liverpool at the moment.

“Would Mbappe go to Liverpool? You know what, why wouldn’t he come? Why wouldn’t he want to play against the best players in the Premier League and really test himself?

“I think the one problem we face over here with players like that is they often feel like they can only win the Ballon d’Or if they go to Real Madrid or Barcelona.

“Why can’t there be a shift? Why can’t there be a Premier League team who dominates Europe for a number of years?

“He is obviously a player who you would love to see in the Premier League. I would love to see him at Liverpool. Whether it will happen or not, I’m not so sure. That’s only something he would answer.

“It will also depend on the form of Barcelona and Real Madrid. If he feels that those sides are not close to winning the Champions League, then maybe that’s something he might look at.”