Arsenal legend calls on Kylian Mbappe to join Liverpool over Real Madrid

Arsenal legend Robert Pires has revealed he would like to see Kylian Mbappe play for Liverpool next season, even calling on the superstar to back out of his agreement with Real Madrid.

Mbappe is now widely expected to sign for Real Madrid this summer, upon conclusion of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain.

After months of speculation over his future, it appears the 25-year-old forward has now made a decision on his whereabouts for next season and is reported to have signed a pre-contract agreement with the Spanish giants.

While a move to Madrid was always the most predictable outcome for the saga, Liverpool were also among the clubs regularly suggested as a possible destination for Mbappe.

However, besides a history of occasional flirtation, a transfer to Anfield was never particularly realistic due to the massive finances involved.

Still, former Premier League great and ex-France star Pires is among those who would've been keen to see Mbappe at Liverpool, and appears to be still holding out hope for a dramatic twist in the tale of the long-running transfer soap opera.

Explosive partnership with Salah

Referencing his own career, Pires told French outlet Media Carre. "I don't know what decision he [Mbappe] will make, but I rejected Real because I had two other options. Surely if I didn’t have Arsenal and Juve, I would have gone straight to Real. That is sure.

"I would like to see him at Liverpool. It’s a great club, family, good structure, no pressure, calm fans… And I tell myself that Mbappe and [Mohamed] Salah could be quite explosive. I think he is capable of rejecting Real Madrid."

It's high praise from a former Arsenal man and while the prospect of an attack featuring both Salah and Mbappe is a tantalising one, the prospect of it happening are practically nil, even if a move to Real Madrid were to fall through.

Instead, Liverpool's new hierarchy including sporting director Richard Hughes and FSG's CEO of football Michael Edwards will be focussed on appointing the club's next manager, as well as sorting out the contract situations of Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold's whose current deals all expire in just over one year's time.