Pochettino arrival yet to dispel PSG belief about Liverpool, Mbappe deal

Kylian Mbappe

Paris Saint-Germain still believe that Liverpool and Real Madrid are willing to pay ‘anything’ for Kylian Mbappe, according to a report.

The Frenchman has made himself one of the world’s best players with his meteoric rise in recent seasons.

However, for the first time in his career, the 22-year-old is facing uncertainty about his future.

Mbappe’s contract in Paris runs out in 2022 and it remains unclear if he will extend his terms. PSG sporting director Leonardo said in December (via Goal) that both player and club have made progress in negotiations.

Nevertheless, links to Madrid and Liverpool have remained amid speculation that the striker could seek a new challenge.

Spanish publication Sport claims that PSG believe that the pair remain ‘capable’ of paying whatever it takes to sign him, should the opportunity arise.

What’s more, that belief remains despite Mauricio Pochettino‘s arrival in the dugout. The former Tottenham coach is back in work and has signed an initial one-year deal in Paris.

Madrid have entertained the strongest links to Mbappe in recent months. Los Blancos held off on their spending in the last transfer window due to the financial impact of the pandemic.

However, club chiefs are supposedly gearing up for a big spend in the summer market. Indeed, Mbappe and Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland are supposedly among their targets.

 

 

Liverpool, meanwhile, are facing renewed uncertainty about the future of winger Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian admitted last month that he felt “very disappointed” at boss Jurgen Klopp for snubbing him the chance to captain the team against Midtjylland.

He also refused to rule out a future move to Madrid or Barcelona, should the chance to sign up arrive.

Liverpool ‘in talks’ for Botman signing

Liverpool’s immediate transfer priority, though, is to sign a new defender in January.

The Reds currently have no senior fit centre-backs, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all injured.

But fresh reports have claimed that the Anfield club have begun negotiations about signing Lille defender Sven Botman.

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