Jurgen Klopp has lifted the lid on Liverpool's private transfer talks with Kylian Mbappe back before the French striker decided to pursue a move to Paris Saint-Germain
Jurgen Klopp has been working as a pundit during the World Cup
Jurgen Klopp spoke about Liverpool's transfer talks with Kylian Mbappe(Image: Magenta TV)
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Jurgen Klopp has divulged how Liverpool tried to woo Kylian Mbappe and his family on a lavish private jet during their attempts to sign the striker before his move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe has grown into one of Europe's deadliest strikers in recent years, first in Paris and then in Spain after joining Real Madrid. But the 27-year-old was hot property long before his move to the French capital with Liverpool among his Premier League admirers.
It's no secret that Mbappe considered joining the Reds before opting to move to PSG following transfer talks.
But Klopp, who was Liverpool's manager at the time, has now revealed some more details about how the club hierarchy met with Mbappe and his family when the Frenchman was still weighing up his next move while at Monaco.
Speaking in his role as a pundit for Magenta TV covering the World Cup, he said prior to France's quarter-final triumph over Morocco of Mbappe: "The most expensive non-transfer we [Liverpool] invested in. We flew from Blackpool to Nice. In Nice, the entire Mbappe family boarded a private jet with five rooms or something."
He continued: "We really went all out. Then we flew around in a circle, talked with the family, ate good food..."
When he was asked why the plane only went in a circle during the journey by a colleague, Klopp explained: "We couldn't be seen. We flew in a circle. It was fantastic. And then he went to Paris!"
Klopp, who was seen embracing Mbappe on the pitch after the striker scored France's opener in a 2-0 win, looks set to make an unexpected return to management in a role which could put him on a collision course with Mbappe and Co. in the Euros in 2028.
Kylian Mbappe scored a superb goal to give France the lead against Morocco
Kylian Mbappe bagged his eighth goal of the World Cup in France's 2-0 win over Morocco(Image: (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images))
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After taking up a non-coaching role with Red Bull as their Head of Global Soccer, Klopp is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Julian Nagelsmann as the Germany head coach.
Confirming he had already been approached last week, Klopp said: "Things moved pretty quickly. Julian stepped down. The DFB (German FA) are looking for a successor. And they're talking to me.
"What needs to happen now? Time. I'm under contract with Red Bull. I've said I'm interested in the talks. They will be intensive because this isn't only about Julian Nagelsmann.
"I have an existing contract with Red Bull. I've said many times how much I enjoy this job. As a person, I usually honour contracts. But I've also made it clear that I'm interested in talks with the DFB."
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