Rumour Mongering: #Mbappe2021?

In dark times like these, we should really only pay attention to media rumors that bring us joy, even if they’re primarily written to get clicks. (We deserve joy.)

The Daily Mail reported last month that young star Kylian Mbappe is “only” interested in a move to Liverpool or Real Madrid.

Mbappe has said previously that playing for Real Madrid was a “childhood dream” of his, but was also impressed by John Henry’s attentions when the Liverpool owner spent two hours speaking to the youngster back in 2017.

As his contract is up in 2022, a sale this summer is PSG’s best hope to rake in money on the transfer should the Frenchman choose to go elsewhere to ply his trade (PSG’s Champions League run in 2020/21 is thus one to watch).

Why is this of interest again? Well, the “news” that Real Madrid have interest in Mohamed Salah but cannot afford him suggests this summer might not be full of the usual suspects doing big-money transfers, as some turmoil at Real Madrid (and at other large clubs) could change the face of the transfer market.

As Noel Cromyn wrote elsewhere on our site, the uncertainty of the 2021 financial landscape makes these moves hard to predict. Hold on to your hats, folks.

FSG’s reported unwillingness to spend big in the January market despite clear transfer needs (paired with missing out on Timo Werner and signing Diogo Jota with a very particular payment structure) has angered the #FSGout twitter accounts that had long laid dormant following the silverware of the last two years. Certainly many could find something to critique in the club’s transfer business as January’s run of form became harder and harder to take.

The most optimistic Reds might thing that this reticence might not just be tied to the market, however. Are big purchases on the cards? It’s likely a fools’ optimism, to be sure, but we deserve joy.