Kylian Mbappe speaks out on future – Liverpool stance clarified
Kylian Mbappe has revealed he is yet to make a decision on his future, with his Paris Saint-Germain contract set to expire this summer.
The France forward is the most high-profile player who could become a 'free' transfer this year and he is now able to discuss terms with foreign clubs ahead of a summer move.
Liverpool and Real Madrid have been touted as his possible next destinations, while PSG are still hopeful their superstar renews his mega deal in the French capital.
Earlier this week, PSG manager Luis Enrique conceded the 25-year-old future was out his control. Meanwhile, Mbappe has admitted his future is still up in the air as he focusses on the season at hand with PSG.
"No, to start with I'm very motivated by this year," he is quoted as telling reporters. "It's very important. We have titles to win and we have already won one.
"I haven't made my decision yet. I haven't made a choice. With the agreement I had with the president in the summer, my decision is not important as we managed to protect all the parties and preserved the serenity of the club for the challenges to come, which is the most important. So we will say that it [the decision] is secondary."
Liverpool's stance on Mbappe
Anfield Watch has previously reported that Liverpool would only consider making a move for Mbappe this summer if Mohamed Salah were to leave the club.The 31-year-old Egyptian's current contract is due to expire in 2025 and there has been serious interest from the Saudi Pro League – with Al Ittihad seeing a bid worth up to £150m rejected last summer.
However, despite regular speculation about a possible move to the Middle East, Salah is open to extending his stay at Anfield, while Liverpool are keen to keep him at the club as long as possible, despite his advancing years.
Salah's openness to a renewal has prompted a shift in Liverpool's transfer strategy, with the club scaling back their search for possible replacements.
Were Salah to stay, it would definitively rule out the possibility of a move for Mbappe – whose potential salary would exceed that of the Reds' record Premier League goalscorer.
Salah is already Liverpool's best-paid player of all time on around £350k a week basic pay. By comparison, Mbappe's wages at PSG amount to well over £1m a week by some estimates.
Even if Mbappe were willing to take a substantial pay cut in order to move to Merseyside, Liverpool would not be able to afford to keep both the France star and Salah on their books.
Speaking about a possible approach for the 2018 World Cup winner last summer, Jurgen Klopp insisted he 'laughed' off such reports.
"We laugh about it," Klopp told Sky Germany. "I can say that I think he's a really good player but the financial conditions don't suit us at all. I wouldn't like to ruin the story now... but as far as I know, there's nothing to it."