Kylian Mbappe open to Liverpool bid amid contract standoff

How long was it this time then?

Yes, just four days since Deadline Day and the Kylian Mbappe rumours are already back. Well done, everyone.

This time it's L'Equipe who claim that Real Madrid are not the only possible destination for the France captain next summer (spoiler alert: they probably are).

In case you missed it, Mbappe was exiled (or at least made to train with the likes of Julian Draxler – oh the humanity!) this summer as a standoff ensued over his contract situation.

The forward has just a year left on his current deal and is refusing to sign new terms. Instead, the World Cup final hat-trick hero was prepared to run down his final months, stuff his pockets with all those lovely loyalty bonuses and join Real Madrid. Nice work if you can get it, kids.

PSG even tried to offload him to Saudi Arabia, but Mbappe refused to enter talks with Al Hilal.

However, since then Mbappe – now back training with the good players – has come to a 'gentleman's agreement' to leave his bonuses on the table (what's €100m between friends?) in order to resume first-team duties for the year. A contract renewal is not being ruled out, with the superstar's future up in the air again.

Amid this drama, L'Equipe claim that Liverpool could be brought back into the picture and that Mbappe could be open to an Anfield bid, if it were to be made...

Liverpool are said to be long-term admirers of Mbappe (who isn't?) while the forward is a big fan of Jurgen Klopp (again, who isn't?).

But that's about all they've got to say on the matter.

With the transfer window now closed, Liverpool would have to wait until January in order to queue-jump Real Madrid – who by all accounts are prepared to wait patiently until next summer, having already wrapped up personal terms with the former Monaco star.

Even in the event that Salah is sold to Saudi Arabia, there is little to no chance that the Reds can compete with Madrid, PSG or even Al Hilal on financial terms for Mbappe – whose current basic wage sits at well-over £1m a week – and Liverpool's historic interest is likely being used by agents and media outlets to keep the story going for their own gain.

And we (and by extension you) have fallen for it once again. Sorry about that. Let's all just do something else, shall we?