Liverpool reportedly interested in Real Madrid target Kylian Mbappé
Image rights are reportedly an issue between Mbappé and Real Madrid and there is speculation of an offer from Liverpool, who are keeping a close eye on developments.
On 28 May in Paris, Real Madrid and Liverpool will face each other in this year’s Champions League final. Paris is also home to Kylian Mbappé, a target for both clubs, according to The Independent.
Real Madrid have been working on signing Mbappé for years, and offered €200 million last summer, but failed in their attempt to land the French forward. PSG rejected the bid for their idolised forward. Mbappé has not signed a new deal, deciding instead to reject several attractive proposals from the Ligue 1 club.
Last week Mbappé was spotted in the Spanish capital with good friend and team-mate Achraf Hakimi, with reports in Spain suggesting he was house-hunting. Madrid hope to unveil him as their new star signing before the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.
Miguel Delaney, in his weekly newsletter for The Independent, claims Mbappé has yet to agree terms on his contract with Real Madrid, adding that his future is unclear, also opening up the possibility of him still renewing at PSG and giving Liverpool hope.
Liverpool linked with Mbappé move
The Reds have been the other major bidder in the race to land Mbappé and this has led to speculation in England that Klopp’s side, who have acknowledged their admiration for the France international, will make a final offer to try to land the 23-year-old.
In January, reports in France suggested that Liverpool had an advantage over Madrid to sign Mbappé, and now with less than two weeks to go before the Champions League final, Liverpool are potentially back in the running.
The image rights issue
The report by Delaney claims “Real insist on 50 percent of a player’s media rights in every contract they negotiate at the Bernabéu”. However, “Mbappé's representatives are unwilling to surrender that much and those close to the situation believe Los Blancos may have made a mistake in making the demand”.
Delphine Verheyden, the player’s lawyer, is leading the battle against the French Federation over image rights. Not only because of the amount Mbappé receives from them, but also because the forward does not want to offer his image to any kind of advertising campaign.
It would not be a simple operation for the Premier League outfit, as Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mané would have to leave Anfield to fit Mbappé into the club’s wage structure.
Both Salah and Mané are out of contract in 2023. Liverpool have yet to offer either forward a contract renewal.