Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool prospects of signing world’s best player revealed amid renewed talk of multi-billion takeover

Kylian Mbappe and Leo Messi of PSG during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint Germain and FC Nantes at Parc des Princes on November 20, 2021 in Paris

Liverpool’s prospects of signing Kylian Mbappe in 2023 have been assessed amid claims the Reds will soon have new owners following talk of a £4bn takeover.

The Merseysiders are up for sale, or at least their owners FSG are open to significant investment, after 12 years in charge. Boston-based majority shareholder, John W Henry, is looking for a sizeable return on his group’s initial £300m investment in October 2010.

Under their leadership, Liverpool have enjoyed one of the most successful periods in their history. Indeed, they have reached three Champions League finals, and also the Europa League final. And with Jurgen Klopp at the helm, the Reds also ended their 30-year wait to be crowned champions of England in 2020.

However, their reign could soon becoming to a close with the club up for sale for a fee of around £4bn. In that time, FSG have spent around £1.254bn on transfers – here we have ranked all 77 of those arrivals from worst to best.

Despite that, there are fears that Liverpool cannot compete financial with some of Europe’s super-clubs. And with reports of their sale heating up, there are seemingly two major suitors battling it out for ownership.

The first of those is Stephen Pagliuca – the owner of the Boston Celtics – and whose wealth tops Sheikh Mansour’s by £112bn.

And there is also talk of a bid from wealthy Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani.

Either way, those talks are expected to intensify in the coming weeks. But amid fears that the saga could affect Liverpool’s transfer plans in 2023, chairman Tom Werner has thankfully insisted it is ‘business as usual’ for the Reds.

Liverpool Kylian Mbappe chances rated

As a result, their hopes of signing Jude Bellingham remain, for the main part, on track. His signing though, will likely set the club back a new club-record fee.

Should Liverpool inherit super-rich new owners, speculation has been rekindled that a future move for Mbappe could be back on the agenda.

His future at PSG remains under the spotlight amid claims he is less than settled at the Parc des Princes.

However, despite claims a move could be on the cards, The Athletic claims a move to Anfield still remains unlikely.

And while they admit his future in Paris looks far from certain, they write that a move to Real Madrid has far greater prospects.

Manchester United are also given a mention too; the Red Devils are also the subject of takeover talk and a have also been linked with Mbappe.

And while a potential £150m transfer fee may be within reach, it is the astronomical wage demand which would scupper either side’s prospects.

Even with super-rich new owners, there remains a limit on what either would spend, particularly in light of squad harmony and how that would affect the rest of their squads.

Real Madrid transfer hint for ‘world’s best player’

Mbappe, often regarded as the world’s best player, already has three goals from two appearances at the 2022 World Cup.

He will hope to add to that tally in the coming weeks, with France seemingly on track to meet England in the quarter-finals.

And while he does not need the showpiece tournament to highlight his qualities, speculation over a transfer will gather pace on the back of some big performances in Qatar.

As such, PSG’s transfer advisor Luis Campos is unable to guarantee Mbappe will stay beyond the end of the season.

Speaking to Marca, he said: “I love LaLiga, but the decision to play in Spain is his, not mine. Kylian could go on to play in any league, but at the moment I think he is doing really well in France and at PSG.

“Football has a short memory, and football also often gives us very important lessons. I think Kylian has made his decision to stay at PSG, and now the club has to enjoy his quality.

“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, the important thing is to enjoy him with us now. We have a great connection because I met him when he was 14 years old. I don’t only have a professional relationship with Kylian, I also have a friendship. He grew up with me.”

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