Liverpool are reportedly considering an ambitious swoop for France and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe – but will face stiff competition from Real Madrid.
The superstar striker is out of contract in Paris next summer and would be able to move for free.
But his wage packet currently is a jaw-dropping £63million per year at PSG and any suitor would have to match or exceed that.
Nonetheless, Team Talk claim Liverpool may be able to make the investment if they can attract Saudi Arabian cash for their forward Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian remains the biggest target for Saudi clubs after Al-Ittihad saw their £150million offer rebuffed back in the summer.
Liverpool are reportedly lining up an audacious swoop for France star Kylian Mbappe
The sale of Mohamed Salah to Saudi Arabia would reportedly be key to any Mbappe deal
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp would surely not turn down the opportunity to work with Mbappe
Al-Ittihad may be willing to bid up to £200m for the 31-year-old, who is once again in superb form with 12 goals and five assists for the Reds this season.
Such a boost to Liverpool’s transfer kitty would allow them to put together at attractive proposal for Mbappe and challenge Real for his signature, Team Talk say.
Any move for Mbappe, who has 17 goals in 17 games for PSG so far this season, would represent a huge statement of intent from the Anfield side as they try and close the gap to Manchester City.
However, Mbappe is still expected to move to the Bernabeu next summer with a verbal agreement in place, something which has caused a good deal of friction between the player and his employers.
He was excluded from PSG’s pre-season tour of Japan after it emerged he wouldn’t be renewing his contract there but was then reintegrated into the team and has continued to score at a remarkable rate.
The 24-year-old’s goal return now stands at 229 in 277 games for PSG and 46 in 75 outings for France.
His latest strike was a hammer blow to Newcastle United’s hopes of making the Champions League knockout stages.
Mbappe scored from the penalty spot to salvage a point for PSG on Tuesday night after Tino Livramento was harshly penalised for handball.
Mbappe scored from the penalty spot to salvage a draw for PSG against Newcastle on Tuesday