Liverpool LEAD Mbappe race ahead of Real Madrid

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 3 Jan 2024 13:40 GMT
• 2 min read

Liverpool see Kylian Mbappe as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah and have taken the lead in the race to sign the PSG attacker, according to a report from Spain.

The forward is out of contract at the end of the season and is destined to become a free agent. He is currently able to negotiate with foreign teams over a potential summer transfer.

Real Madrid have long been considered to be the club in command of the forward’s future, yet Jurgen Klopp’s side are now in pole position to sign Mbappe as Los Blancos hesitate over whether to move for the World Cup winner.

Todo Fichajes states that Real Madrid “have taken a step back regarding his signing, either due to discomfort at having been snubbed in 2022 or due to a technical decision.”

The report goes on to say that Liverpool have profited from the dithering of the Spanish giants and see the 25-year-old as an insurance policy should Salah decide to leave the club.

Real Madrid have reportedly given Mbappe a 15 January deadline to sign a contract with them.

Meanwhile, PSG boss Luis Enrique has played down any immediate concern over the forward, stating to the media on Wednesday: “I will manage the situation as I have always done. It is not something that depends on me. I am not the person who should answer that question.”

Salah set for Liverpool stay

FootballTransfers’ information is that Salah is likely to sign a new contract at Liverpool, which would put into question this report, yet it makes sense that until the Egypt international forward’s future is made clear the Reds would seek alternatives.

Mbappe has previously spoken of the respect that he has for Jurgen Klopp and the style of football that he employs, while the fact that he is out of contract at the end of the season means that there is great interest over his future.

The prospect of him moving to Real Madrid makes increasingly little sense for Los Blancos due to the presence of Vini Jr on the left and the fact that Mbappe has made it clear that he does not like playing as a lone centre-forward.

Liverpool, it is stated, “were not in his plans”, but a switch to Anfield could be an attractive alternative if Madrid have indeed dropped definitively out of the race to sign him.

PSG, of course, remain another viable option for Mbappe, with the forward apparently happy at his hometown side after a summer transfer overhaul that notably saw Neymar depart.