Kylian Mbappé has revealed he was on the verge of joining Liverpool in 2016, and that his mother was a vocal supporter of the club's then-manager Jürgen Klopp.
The France forward said his mother was a "big fan" of Klopp and had pushed for him to make the switch to Merseyside. Mbappé added that the proposed move in 2016 ultimately did not materialise.
The comments shed fresh light on transfer discussions from earlier in Mbappé's career and underline the regard in which Klopp was held by the family at that time. They also add to the long-running public interest in the pathways that led to the player’s subsequent development.
While the transfer never happened, Mbappé's remarks illustrate how club reputations and individual relationships can influence young players and their families during formative stages of a career. The revelation is likely to rekindle memories of past transfer speculation surrounding one of world football’s most high-profile players.