Jurgen Klopp reveals Liverpool's secret 'fly in a circle' bid for Kylian Mbappe

Jurgen Klopp has lifted the lid on Liverpool's most elaborate transfer pitch – a private jet that flew Kylian Mbappe and his family in a circle over the French Riviera to avoid being seen. The former Liverpool manager, working as a pundit for Magenta TV at the World Cup, said the club laid on a plane from Blackpool to Nice, where the entire Mbappe family boarded a jet with “five rooms or something”. “We really went all out. Then we flew around in a circle, talked with the family, ate good food,” Klopp recalled pitchside before France beat Morocco to reach the World Cup semi-finals. The reason for the circular flight? “We couldn't be seen. We flew in a circle. It was fantastic. And then he went to Paris!” Klopp described the pursuit as “the most expensive non-transfer” the club had ever invested in. At the time, Mbappe was a teenage sensation at Monaco, courted by Europe's elite. The 27-year-old instead joined Paris St-Germain in 2017 on an initial loan that became permanent for 180m euros (£153m). He spent seven years in Paris, becoming the club's record scorer before moving to Real Madrid in 2024. Klopp, 59, later embraced Mbappe after he scored France's opener in a 2-0 win over Morocco. The revelation comes as Klopp himself faces a decision on his future. Widely expected to become the next Germany head coach, he confirmed he had been approached after Julian Nagelsmann stepped down. “Things moved pretty quickly,” Klopp said. “Julian stepped down. The DFB are looking for a successor. And they're talking to me. What needs to happen now? Time. I'm under contract with Red Bull. I've said I'm interested in the talks. They will be intensive because this isn't only about Julian Nagelsmann. I have an existing contract with Red Bull. I've said many times how much I enjoy this job. As a person, I usually honour contracts. But I've also made it clear that I'm interested in talks with the DFB.” Should he take the role, Klopp could find himself on a collision course with Mbappe at the 2028 European Championship – a far cry from circling the skies in a private jet with the striker's family over dinner.