If Liverpool hoped to be done with the Kylian Mbappé transfer rumors forever, this summer has certainly not helped. The Frenchman is set to become a free agent at the end of the season as things stand — a situation which could yet coincide with Mohamed Salah moving to Saudi Arabia.
Of course, neither of those things are certainties, and Mbappé has been on the brink at PSG in the past. Even if he does move on as expected, Real Madrid remains the overwhelming favorite. But the pool of players Liverpool could realistically count on to replace Salah is not a large one, and will inevitably bring the Frenchman back into the gossip columns.
That’s started already, with Liverpool being credited with a ‘headstart’ by one French journalist. As for Salah, stories continue to come in even after the Saudi transfer deadline passed.
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Now, the focus turns to if and when the Saudis will renew their pursuit. Liverpool turned down huge sums this summer, but next year will be the final chance to cash in, provided the club does not agree a new contract with the Egyptian in the meantime.
Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Saudi Arabia has put a move for Salah ‘on hold’ for the time being, according to the Daily Mail. However, it intends to return to secure his signature.
Representatives of the league were in London on Saturday in the hopes of concluding a deal, but were met with a clear response from Liverpool. That’s despite Al Ittihad being willing to go ‘above’ $250m (£200m/€233m).
If and when another Salah offensive comes, it may not only be Al Ittihad in the race. Caught Offside claims that Al Hilal and Al Ahli are also options, with the Public Investment Fund ultimately providing the backing to all of those teams.
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Liverpool.com says: It always seemed inevitable that it would not be a ‘now-or-never’ pursuit of Salah. Perhaps that’s why Liverpool was so willing to stand firm — if FSG is willing to sell next summer, it will have to hope that similar sums are on the table.
Still, the pursuit being ‘on hold’ gives Liverpool a degree of certainty, until January at the very least. In the winter, the Reds’ stance will surely be even firmer, so Jürgen Klopp can most likely plan for the season with Salah involved, even though it looks like it may be a ‘last dance’ of sorts.
Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
Speaking on ESPN FC, French journalist Julien Laurens has given an update on the ‘possibility’ of Mbappé to Liverpool. He was simply responding to a viewer’s question — although his response will no doubt add a little fuel to the fire.
Laurens refused to put a figure on the ‘percentage chance’ of Mbappé joining Liverpool. He also reaffirmed that Real Madrid remains in the driving seat. But he credited Klopp’s side with an advantage over all other suitors:
“Real Madrid are still the outstanding favorite, of course, for next summer already. [But] I think Liverpool have a case to put forward, especially if Kylian is a free agent.
“Every big club in England should go for him, talk to him, present a project, and then he will choose where he feels is the best for him, Liverpool included. But his mum is a big fan of Liverpool, he likes Liverpool, he likes what Liverpool has done under Jürgen Klopp.
“So I think they have maybe a little headstart. Not to Real Madrid, but to other English clubs: City, Arsenal, United, Chelsea, Spurs. So that’s good for them.”
Liverpool.com says: This all feels like an academic point. Liverpool may well be second in line for Mbappé, but that’s not a useful position to be in when Real Madrid is so firmly at the front of the queue.
In theory, Mbappé would be one of the very few who could potentially replace Salah in a like-for-like manner, in terms of his ability to single-handedly change games and to offer hugely reliable output. The Egyptian’s departure may even mean funding the move is within the realms of possibility. But there’s just no point getting carried away with this train of thought, because Real Madrid wants him. That means it will get him.