Klopp's departure ends Liverpool's pursuit of Nunez upgrade

Cameron Smith

• 9 Feb 2024 11:15 GMT
• 3 min read

Liverpool are reportedly out of the race to sign Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe following Jurgen Klopp’s decision to leave the club.

The Reds boss will leave his post as head coach at the end of the 2023-24 season after announcing his imminent departure in January.

Bayer Leverkusen boss and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is the current favourite to replace Klopp at Anfield, while Roberto De Zerbi, Ruben Amorim and Steven Gerrard have all been tipped as alternatives.

News of Klopp’s imminent exit came as a hammer blow for Liverpool and it has now impacted their ability to operate in the transfer market.

Mbappe appears on the verge of joining Real Madrid on a free transfer when his PSG contract expires this summer, and Liverpool were seemingly the only club capable of hijacking his potential move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Liverpool’s chances of signing Kylian Mbappe over

Liverpool were considered to be Mbappe’s most likely Premier League destination, but Klopp’s decision to step down has ended the Red’s chances of signing the France international.

That is according to Christian Falk, who told CaughtOffside: “Bitter for Liverpool: Kylian Mbappé is said to have seriously considered a move to Liverpool.

“I heard that working with Jürgen Klopp is said to have appealed to the star from France. His thought: Klopp would have made him an even better player.

“With Klopp’s departure, this argument no longer exists. Liverpool should now definitely be out of the race.”

Mbappe has now reportedly reached an agreement in principle to finally join Real Madrid this summer, although it remains to be seen if PSG offer him a bumper new contract in a bid to retain his services.

The France superstar has scored 30 goals in 29 appearances during the 2023-24 campaign, while he also has seven assists.

By comparison, Darwin Nunez, who could’ve lost his place in Liverpool’s starting XI if Mbappe joined, has 22 goal contributions in 33 games so far this season.