Kylian Mbappe could be willing to take pay cut to secure PSG exit

In a potential boost for Liverpool's chances of signing Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe, reports suggest the star forward might be willing to take a pay cut to facilitate his exit from the French capital.

Julien Laurens, writing in ESPN, reports that Mbappe, whose contract with PSG expires in June, is expected to make a decision regarding his next destination imminently.

Real Madrid and Liverpool have emerged as the leading contenders for his signature should the World Cup winner decide to move on - and, under the Bosman ruling, the 25-year-old is free to enter into talks with foreign clubs now that 1 January has passed.

No agreement yet

While long-time suitors Real Madrid have consistently courted the French international and appear to be the favourites, no final agreement has been reached - despite multiple reports to the contrary emerging over the weekend.

The Madrid club have been chasing Mbappe for many years, and came close to signing him in 2022, only for the Frenchman to decide to remain in Paris.

That, of course, still is an option, too. PSG remain eager to retain their record goal scorer and have the upper hand regarding a loyalty bonus of roughly €80 million that Mbappe would lose out on if he chooses to leave.

The club sees Mbappe as the key figure to lead the club into the future and are attempting to leverage their current standing atop Ligue 1 and progression to the Champions League knockout stages under manager Luis Enrique to persuade him to stay.

Liverpool not ruled out

According to ESPN sources, it's still too early to rule Liverpool out of the running for Mbappe's signature. That's because there's a reported admiration for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, plus a potential interest in moving to the Premier League.

Financial constraints at Anfield would ordinarily scupper such a move (he currently earns a staggering weekly wage of approximately €650,000), but ESPN reports that in a bid to secure a transfer, Mbappe might consider taking a pay cut in his next contract, albeit with a considerable signing-on fee.

The financial dynamics of this potential move could intertwine with the fate of Mohamed Salah, whose future at Liverpool could still be in the balance amid continued interest from the Saudi Pro League.