The "will he/won't he" saga of Kylian Mbappe has taken another twist with reports that Liverpool believe they have the powers of persuasion to lure the teenage sensation from Monaco to Anfield.
Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid have all apparently tried and failed to entice the 18-year-old wizard away from Monaco, but French sports daily L'Equipe reports that the Reds are the latest club to come up with a lucrative package.
In reporting the news, the Daily Star claims that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp "met with the Monaco youngster's representatives last month" and the German is quietly confident that his charisma could win the day.
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The Star says that Arsene Wenger, once the frontrunner to land Mbappe, "is privately pessimistic about doing a deal", as are Real, United and Chelsea. But Klopp made such "a big impression" on Mbappe that he is said to be considering his options even although last week it was rumoured that he wanted to stay another season at Monaco.
Then again, The Sun says that Paris Saint-Germain have made a "huge step towards sealing a deal" for Mbappe with the club's sporting director, Antero Henrique, meeting with the teenager's representatives, presumably the same ones who sat down with the Reds. The initial discussion went well, claims the paper, and official negotiations "may begin in a matter of days".
And another youngster who is weighing up a move to Anfield is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. It was reported last month that the Ox was ready to sign new £100,000-a-week contract with Arsenal, but the Daily Express says that Jurgen Klopp is prepared to cough up £40m for the England international.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored for England in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Scotland, has 12 months to run on his existing deal with the Gunners and it's believed that he could be tempted north if Klopp promises him that he will be "deployed in a central midfield position", rather than as a wing-back where he's been forced to play for Arsenal of late.
