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Sagnol: Liverpool have 'big advantage' in race to sign Mbappe

France legend Willy Sagnol believes Liverpool have the edge over Real Madrid in the race to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe due to manager Jurgen Klopp.

The 21-year-old has starred for PSG since joining in a €180 million deal in 2017, but regularly the subject of transfer speculation amid strong reports linking him with both Liverpool and Real Madrid.

The French World Cup winner is reportedly on the Reds' transfer wishlist as a potential replacement for Sadio Mane, should the Senegalese complete a proposed move to Real Madrid.

Those reports have stepped up a notch over the past couple of months with a report claiming Liverpool will agree a summer 2021 deal to sign him amid talk of a lucrative swap deal.

And while reports have claimed Liverpool have the funds to sign the France international, Jurgen Klopp, who met the player's family members in a bid to convince him to sign for Liverpool back three summers ago, says they have "absolutely no chance" of signing the player.

"Buying this calibre of player is difficult," said Klopp. "I don't see any club at the moment who can buy Kylian Mbappe from PSG. I don't see any club, that is how it is. And we are involved in the clubs that cannot do it. It is as easy as that.

"OK, from a sporting point of view, there are not a lot of reasons to not sign him. What a player he is. But it is about the money of course. No chance. Absolutely no chance. Sorry for killing that story."

However, despite Liverpool's consistent denials, Willy Sagnol reckons the partnership would be a match made in heaven – with the France World Cup winner telling SportBild why Mbappe would be so keen to make the move to Anfield.

"This club (Liverpool) has a big advantage," Sagnol said in quotes translated by Sport Witness, before crediting Jurgen Klopp as the principle reason.

"With Klopp, you have a coach with whom every player in the world would like to work. Mbappe would have to adjust under him: he demands a lot of defensive work from his strikers, which Mbappe is not yet good at."

And Sagnol, who won the Bundesliga title five times with Bayern Munich, believes Mbappe would improve massively at Liverpool under the guidance of Klopp.

"Mbappe can learn that [the defensive side of the game], especially from a guy like Klopp. No question: Mbappe could become a king with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool."

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