"The most expensive non-transfer we invested in." That's how Jurgen Klopp summed up Liverpool's pursuit of Kylian Mbappe — a recruitment effort so secretive that the private jet carrying the Mbappe family literally couldn't land anywhere.
Speaking as a pundit for Magenta TV during the World Cup, Klopp described how Liverpool flew from Blackpool to Nice, collected Mbappe and his entire family, and then spent the journey circling in the air. Not going anywhere. Just circling. "We couldn't be seen," Klopp explained. "We flew in a circle. It was fantastic. And then he went to Paris."
The pitch that went nowhere — literally
The optics of that story are almost too good. Liverpool pull out all the stops — five-room private jet, good food, the full charm offensive from Klopp — and Mbappe still picks PSG. At the time, the teenager was at Monaco and one of the most coveted young players in Europe. The Reds weren't the only ones chasing him, but the lengths they went to suggest this was a genuine priority, not a speculative inquiry.
What it also confirms is that Liverpool's ownership and sporting structure were prepared to back Klopp with serious ambition in the transfer market. Whether that was a function of Mbappe's unique profile or a broader shift in approach is debatable — but the club was clearly willing to move aggressively for generational talent.
Mbappe, of course, went to PSG, won everything in France, and is now at Real Madrid. Whatever Liverpool spent on that jet, it didn't come close to what he eventually cost the Spanish giants.
Klopp's next move
The former Liverpool manager is now the clear frontrunner to take over as Germany head coach following Julian Nagelsmann's resignation. He's already confirmed the DFB have approached him and that he's "interested in talks" — complicated only by his existing contract with Red Bull in their Head of Global Soccer role.
"I usually honour contracts," Klopp said, before making clear he's not exactly closing the door either. Germany at Euro 2028 would put him in direct opposition to France — and potentially Mbappe. Given their history, that reunion on the touchline would be considerably more consequential than one lap over the Mediterranean.
