How close Liverpool really came to signing Kylian Mbappe before he joined Real Madrid

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Liverpool’s transfer window ultimately ended in disappointment, with only Federico Chiesa joining up as a new signing.

As ever, the Reds were linked with a whole host of potential new players, but Chiesa was the sole addition to the playing squad this summer.

Giorgi Mamardashvili will arrive too, but the Georgian will spend the season on-loan with Valencia before joining the Liverpool squad in 2025.

Liverpool did try and do more business, with Martin Zubimendi the most high-profile example of a player the Reds wanted but could not bring to Anfield.

While Zubimendi’s saga threatens to rumble on, though, Liverpool did at least see an end to one long-running transfer story.

How close were Liverpool to Kylian Mbappe?

Over the years, Liverpool have been strongly linked with a phenomenal move to try and sign Kylian Mbappe from PSG.

While some supporters may have held out hope that all of the rumours may eventually lead to something, it always seemed inevitable that Mbappe would end up at Real Madrid.

That is exactly what finally came to pass this summer, with the 25-year-old joining the European champions on a free transfer.

Although that did definitively close the Liverpool chapter for the time being, there have been subsequent claims in recent days that Liverpool agreed a deal with Mbappe to bring him to Anfield in 2022.

Now commenting on those rumours in conversation with Anfield Index, journalist David Lynch has confirmed that Liverpool were indeed ‘very keen’ on signing the French superstar.

However, Lynch does also point out that it is highly unlikely that the Reds were ever as close to signing Mbappe as has been reported.

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“I’d be surprised if it got that far,” said the reporter. “I’ve no doubt that there had been contact between Liverpool and Mbappe, they [Liverpool] made no secret that they were really keen if they could have done a deal at any point.

“But it was clear for a while that he was very keen on ending up at Madrid.

“No doubt they had an interest if it was feasible,” Lynch adds. “But if it ever got far enough that a deal was basically agreed, I’m not entirely sure about that one to be honest. I don’t think Liverpool were ever that close really.”

Could Liverpool come again for Kylian Mbappe?

While the potential of Mbappe moving to Liverpool did seem to have at least a very slim possibility of happening, it always felt far-fetched.

In order for the World Cup winner to join them, the Reds would have had to completely break their wage structure. It would have been an enormous, enormous move.

Having been making eyes in the Spaniard’s direction for years, it was always going to be most likely that Mbappe instead moved to Madrid.

But after realising his dream move, there has to be a slight wonder as to what the future holds for Mbappe. He may not leave Real for years now, but he’s still only 25. There could be something beyond the Bernabeu for him.

Given their interest in him and his interest in them, perhaps that could still see Mbappe end up at Anfield one day. For now, though, it’ll be a relief to see this story go away.