Kylian Mbappe gives Liverpool major transfer reminder of what they must do next

So the biggest open secret in football is now (well, almost) official: Kylian Mbappe is leaving Paris Saint-Germain.

Which leads nicely into the second biggest open secret in football: the France international will be joining Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer.

It's not yet confirmed, obviously. But there is barely anyone who believes Mbappe is heading anywhere other than the Bernabeu to enjoy the unique advantages that seemingly only the Spanish behemoth can enjoy.

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And for the very, very few Liverpool supporters who were still clinging to the hope Mbappe could turn up at Anfield, the endgame is now finally near.

Not that Mbappe isn't a fan of the Reds. He has previously gone on the record with his admiration of Jurgen Klopp's work at Liverpool, and that the Anfield outfit wanted him earlier in his career. “I talked to Liverpool because it’s the favourite club of my mum, my mum loves Liverpool," he said in 2002. "I don’t know why, you will have to ask her! It’s a good club and we met them five years ago. When I was in Monaco I met them. It’s a big club.”

Mbappe went to PSG instead. And as his stock grew, so did his value. Despite Liverpool being huge fans of the player, the financial model of Fenway Sports Group meant there was never any realistic chance of such a transfer. Even without a fee, the Reds would have needed to smash their wage structure to sign the forward, which would have been patently problematic.

“We laugh about it,” Klopp said back in August. “I can say that I think he is a really good player. But the financial framework