Jurgen Klopp has detailed how he tried to sign France superstar Kylian Mbappe for Liverpool in 2017 before the forward moved to Paris Saint-Germain.Mbappe came through the academy at Monaco and helped the side win the Ligue 1 title in the 2016-17 campaign, the club’s first league title in 17 years. He recorded 28 goals and 14 assists in 46 appearances in all competitions that season, before joining PSG that summer.Klopp, who left Liverpool in 2024 after almost nine years at the club, explained that the Merseyside club poured significant resources into pursuing Mbappe, including laying on a private jet for him and his family for discussions.“The most expensive non-transfer (Liverpool) invested in,” Klopp told German broadcaster Magenta TV.“We flew from Blackpool to Nice. In Nice, the entire Mbappe family boarded a private jet with five rooms or something.“We really went all out. Then we flew around in a circle, talked with the family, ate good food.“And then he went to Paris.”Kylian Mbappé story from his former teammateElise DevlinMbappe joined PSG in August 2017, initially on loan with an obligation to make the move permanent for a fee of €180million (£153.4m; $205.8m at current rates). It became the second most expensive transfer in history after Neymar’s €222m move from Barcelona to PSG earlier in 2017.The France captain made 308 appearances for the club, recording 256 goals and 110 assists over seven seasons, before joining Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2024 following the expiration of his PSG contract.Speaking in 2022, Mbappe confirmed he had spoken to Liverpool before signing a new contract with PSG, and also mentioned the discussions he had held with the club in 2017.Mbappe told The Telegraph: “We talked a little bit, but not too much. We talked a little bit.“I talked to Liverpool because it’s the favourite club of my mum, my mum loves Liverpool. I don’t know why, you will have to ask her!“It’s a good club and we met them five years ago. When I was in Monaco I met them. It’s a big club.”Liverpool, who were entering Klopp’s second full season at Anfield in 2017, made Mohamed Salah their marquee signing that summer, with the future two-time Premier League champion arriving from Roma. The club also signed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal and Andy Robertson from Hull City in the summer window.Klopp became Red Bull’s head of global soccer after leaving Liverpool. The Athletic reported that he had indicated a willingness to return to management and has held discussions with the German Football Association about replacing Julian Nagelsmann as head coach following the nation’s World Cup exit.Jul 10, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms