Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe is available but Premier League giants Liverpool are being urged to stay clear – particularly with Jurgen Klopp leaving and a new manager set to take his place at Anfield.
Whoever takes the legendary German’s place on the red side of Stanley Park – HITC Football understands that Xabi Alonso is the leading target – will find himself under immense pressure from the get-go, even without a marquee signing such as Kylian Mbappe giving the critics further ammunition in case of a sluggish start to the post-Klopp era.
Stan Collymore, who spent two years at Anfield from 1995 to 1997, is in no doubt about Mbappe’s ‘superstar’ talent. With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the autumn of their careers, the PSG number seven is inheriting the ‘best in the world’ tag while scoring a further 31 goals this season.
Collymore, however, feels that the potential pitfalls to signing a player like Mbappe are too obvious to ignore, with Liverpool’s wage structure, the equilibrium of their dressing room and the authority of Klopp’s successor all potential casualties.
Liverpool urged to stay clear of Kylian Mbappe
“I can see Liverpool or Arsenal trying to get involved in the race,” the former England international tells Caught Offside. “But my advice to them would be to stay away from Mbappe.
“The French star is a great player but he will demolish their wage structure. And not only that, the temptation to push the boat out for him will always be there, which could have a ripple effect across the whole dressing room.
“The Merseyside club have had their best success under Jurgen Klopp by making players into superstars, not signing them. Mbappe would want to have a say in how things are done given his status and how much of an impact would that have on the new manager coming in at Anfield?”
Collymore has a point. Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mo Salah and co arrived at Anfield not as established world-class players but earned their place amongst the elite under Klopp’s coaching.
Real Madrid favourites to sign PSG talisman
“Could you imagine Xabi Alonso, who is still only finding his feet as a young manager, having to deal with Mbappe in his first season?,” Collymore adds. “If the Spanish coach got off to a bad start at Anfield, the media would be saying things like ‘Mbappe isn’t happy with the coaching’, even if that is not true.
“It would put unnecessary pressure on the new coach, who already has to deal with the pressure of succeeding the legendary figure that is Jurgen Klopp.
“That would not be good for the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool.”
HITC understands that Mbappe has informed PSG of his desire to leave when his contract expires in July. Long-time admirers Real Madrid are his most likely destination. The French champions have already identified AC Milan talisman Rafael Leao as a potential replacement, though Les Parisiens will face competition from Barcelona and Chelsea.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
