Liverpool have collected their share of transfer stories involving players who came tantalisingly close to Anfield. Few, though, carry quite the weight of Kylian Mbappe.

The Real Madrid forward has revealed just how seriously Liverpool were considered when he prepared to leave Monaco in 2017. Jurgen Klopp was central to the attraction, particularly for Mbappe’s mother, Fayza Lamari, who actively explored the possibility of her son moving to Merseyside.

Mbappe was 18 and already one of European football’s most coveted talents following Monaco’s run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2016/17.

Liverpool were among the clubs attempting to secure his signature, and Mbappe has now explained how far the process progressed in an interview with The Athletic .

“It was while I was playing in Monaco. I had to take a decision and yes, I was close to Liverpool. My mum was a big fan of Jurgen Klopp and the favourite destination for my mum was Liverpool. She wanted me to go there.

“I didn’t listen because I wanted to play in my city, Paris. I didn’t want to leave my country before I was someone, but my mum was always saying, ‘Liverpool — you’re going to be there, playing at Anfield, it’s going to be insane for you.’ I was like, ‘OK!’

His mother went considerably further than simply suggesting Liverpool.

“She went there (for) the first step of the negotiations. She went to the city, the stadium, she met the people. She was like, ‘It’s a wonderful club, everybody’s so kind, it’s a family club, a big club.’