Liverpool handed Kylian Mbappe transfer lifeline amid £69m bonus stance

Liverpool are still in the frame to sign Kylian Mbappe this summer - because he has not committed his future to Real Madrid yet.

Mbappe is out of contract with Paris Saint-Germain in June and has long been expected to swap the French capital for the Spanish one. He has twice come close to joining Real Madrid, only to end up staying with PSG in the most dramatic of circumstances.

The 25-year-old has decided to run down his PSG deal and, after entering the final six months of his contract, is now allowed to speak with foreign clubs. He is speaking with Real about a possible free transfer in the summer, but nothing has been agreed yet.

ESPN says reports that he has committed himself to the Spanish giants are wide of the mark and Liverpool are a possibility. The Reds are facing the possibility of losing Mohamed Salah to the riches of the Saudi Pro League and could therefore feasibly find a place in their side for Mbappe.

Another factor which is potentially in Liverpool’s favour is the clause in Erling Haaland ’s contract which makes him available for £86million this summer. Haaland has made it clear he would one day like to play for Real, who could decide to opt for him over Mbappe.

Mbappe seems set on leaving PSG, having already agreed to waive a £69m loyalty bonus if he leaves the club this summer. Nevertheless, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has not given up hope of keeping his star player.

"Look, I am not trying to hide anything. I want Kylian Mbappe to stay at PSG. He's the best player in the world and the best club for him is PSG," Al Khelaïfi said on the Rothen s'enflamme RMC podcast. "He is central to our project."

He added: "We have done a lot of things, some have worked more than others. We have made mistakes and this is normal. Now we have a young team, with French players, and we are not in a hurry, this is for the long-term. We have put together a team that is solid on a technical level and our system of play has been changed and it is a pleasure to watch this team. We play as a team, we defend as a team, it is magnificent."

Asked about his future this month, Mbappe said: "No, to start with I'm very motivated by this year. It's very important. We have titles to win and we have already won one.

"I haven't made my decision yet. I haven't made a choice. With the agreement I had with the president in the summer, my decision is not important as we managed to protect all the parties and preserved the serenity of the club for the challenges to come, which is the most important. So we will say that it [the decision] is secondary."