Jürgen Klopp has revealed the extraordinary efforts Liverpool made in a failed attempt to sign a teenage Kylian Mbappé from Monaco, describing an elaborate and secretive meeting with the forward's family. Speaking on German broadcaster Magenta TV after covering France's World Cup quarter-final win over Morocco, the former Liverpool manager recounted flying to Nice and boarding a private jet that circled in the air while talks took place. The anecdote offers a candid glimpse into elite transfer negotiations and the near-misses that shaped Mbappé's career, given he ultimately joined Paris Saint-Germain instead.

Liverpool were among several top European clubs chasing Mbappé after he emerged in the Monaco side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2016-17; he joined PSG on loan in August 2017 before a €180m permanent move the following year. Klopp described the pursuit as "roughly €500m, the most expensive non-transfer we've ever made", explaining that the party flew from Blackpool to Nice, where the Mbappé family boarded a private jet with five cabins, flew in circles and shared a meal away from public view. He also noted that Mbappé's mother, Fayza Lamari, is a Liverpool supporter, and lamented having negotiated unsuccessfully for three of France's players, also naming Aurélien Tchouaméni and possibly Manu Koné.