Jurgen Klopp did his best to try and sign Kylian Mbappe while he was Liverpool manager, and he also had his eye on two of the Real Madrid superstar's teammates at the World Cup
09:01, 13 Jul 2026
Foxborough, United States - July 9: Juergen Klopp looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium on July 9, 2026 in Foxborough, United States. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp has detailed his efforts to sign Kylian Mbappe and two of his teammates at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Kylian Mbappe is not the only World Cup star Jurgen Klopp came close to signing during his time in Liverpool. In fact, the Reds’ former boss could have had two more of his French teammates.
Klopp - who looks set to return to management as he closes in on the Germany job - detailed his attempts to sign Mbappe last week, with the 27-year-old in remarkable goalscoring form at this year’s World Cup.
Back in 2017, when he was looking to make a first big move in his career after becoming a breakout star at Monaco, Liverpool was in the running for his signature before ultimately losing out to Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking during MagentaTV’s coverage of France’s World Cup quarter-final against Morocco, Klopp revealed that he had been involved in talks for Liverpool to try and sign Mbappe, only for the Reds’ efforts to be in vain.
“The most expensive non-transfer we [Liverpool] invested in,” Klopp explained. “We flew from Blackpool to Nice. In Nice, the entire Mbappe family boarded a private jet with five rooms or something.
“We really went all out. Then we flew around in a circle, talked with the family, ate good food.”
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 09: Kylian Mbappe of France and Jurgen Klopp are seen after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium on July 09, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp has revealed how close Liverpool came to signing Kylian Mbappe(Image: Getty Images)
Questioned why he didn’t leave the plane for the talks, Klopp responded: “We couldn't be seen.
“We flew in a circle. It was fantastic. And then he went to Paris…”
And Mbappe isn’t the only current French star to have denied Klopp, with the former Liverpool boss also revealing he missed out on Ousmane Dembele and Adrien Rabiot while he was at Anfield.
“It’s extremely tough for me right now. I’ve already negotiated with three of their players and never got them,” Klopp joked.
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Klopp’s attempts to sign Dembele came even earlier than his talks with Mbappe. Back in 2016, the Ballon d’Or winner was valued at around $38 million as an 18-year-old at Rennes before he eventually made the move to Borussia Dortmund.
Unfortunately for Klopp, he was already at Liverpool by that point, and his conversation with Dembele proved more expensive than he had been planning.
“I don’t know if he even knew who we were,” Klopp said.
“Then my phone fell on the floor. The only outcome of that evening was: my phone was broken.”
Ousmane Dembele of France and Adrien Rabiot of France gestures during the Quarter Final - FIFA World Cup 2026 match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium on July 9, 2026 in Foxborough, United States. (Photo by GSI/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp also tried to sign Ousmane Dembele and Adrien Rabiot during his time at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Rabiot, meanwhile, was linked with Liverpool on a few occasions, most notably in 2018 and 2019 while he was at PSG.
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He would eventually leave the French capital to join Juventus for free in 2019, and now finds himself at AC Milan after a short spell at Marseille.
All three players would have been exciting additions to Klopp’s squad at Anfield, but the former Liverpool boss didn’t do too badly without them in any case, going on to win the Champions League and a first Premier League title in 30 years for the Reds.
Klopp won’t have to worry about chasing new signings in his next job, with the 59-year-old expected to be announced as Germany’s new manager in the coming days, having reached an agreement with the DFB.