In the summer of 2017, football's hottest young property was Monaco's Kylian Mbappe. In 2018, Mbappe is a household name and a World Cup winner with France, justifying the big bucks paid by PSG to bring the young star to Paris.
Mbappe has gone from strength to strength over the past year at PSG, even outshining his team mate Neymar at times, as the French side romped to Ligue 1 success.
But it could have been very different for the attacker had Jurgen Klopp succeeded in tempting the youngster to Anfield in 2017. Liverpool were just one of a host of clubs monitoring the prodigious talent, with French publication L'Equipe reporting that Mbappe was 'charmed by the eloquence and enthusiasm' of Klopp, who spoke to the player for 'several hours'.
It was to be in vain however as Liverpool could not match the financial clout of PSG, even though L'Equipe claim the Reds were prepared to make Mbappe the clubs highest earner alongside Philipe Coutinho.
Mbappe ended up joining PSG on an initial loan which would turn into a permanent transfer the following season, the 19-year-old moving for €145 million with a further €35 million in add-ons, and though any potential arrival to Anfield would have impacted on the chemistry and form of Salah, Mane & Firmino, had Klopp managed to snag the player it would have been a massive statement of intent for the Reds going forward.
As is happens, Klopp faces off against the player he tried to sign tonight at Anfield, though Liverpool fans will take solace in the fact that theirs is one of the most potent attacks in all of Europe.
