Mbappe encouraged to seal Real Madrid transfer after Liverpool decision

Kylian Mbappe is "welcome in Madrid" and has "all the qualities" to succeed with Los Blancos, according to Karim Benzema.

The Real Madrid frontman appeared to encourage his fellow Frenchman to make the switch to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer as he approaches the final year of his deal with Paris Saint-Germain.

While Mbappe scored a breathtaking 42 goals this season, little progress has been made in contract extension talks with PSG chiefs.

The club's sporting director, Leonardo, would be hugely reluctant to let Mbappe to leave for nothing next year, so he may look to offload the 22-year-old before the start of the new season if new terms are not agreed.

Benzema has no doubt his compatriot would be a huge hit in the Spanish capital and outlined his "hope" of lining up together for club as well as country.

"Mbappe at Real? We'll see what happens, but in any case he is welcome in Madrid," Benzema told French outlet M6.

"He has all the qualities to be a Real Madrid player, one day I hope."

Los Blancos received a boost in their long-term pursuit of Mbappe last week as Liverpool - their biggest rivals for the former Monaco man - ruled out a summer bid.

Even though he has just over 12 months remaining on his contract at Le Parc des Princes, Mbappe is sure to command a considerable fee north of £100million.

His hefty wages could also prove to be a problem for cash-strapped Real Madrid, who are in almost £1billion of debt.

But a disappointing, trophy-less 2020/21 campaign laid bare the need for the club to invest, as well as their over-reliance on Benzema himself.

The 33-year-old scored 23 La Liga goals - over a third of his side's total tally of 67 - and netted 29 times in all competitions.

Benzema would relish a new partner in attack and will have the chance to forge a partnership with Mbappe for the first time at this summer's Euros.

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The veteran striker earned a stunning recall to Didier Deschamps' France squad earlier this month, providing his country with even more firepower heading into the summer tournament.

Benzema last featured for France in 2015 and has endured a lengthy exile following a scandal involving Mathieu Valbuena.

But Deschamps said the dispute had been put to bed, telling Telefoot : "I won't talk about our discussion. But it was very, very long: there were a lot of exchanges.

"What is important is today and tomorrow. The fact that he did not come back before did not prevent the French team from having good results."

The World Cup-winning manager added: "Things have changed. Me, and certainly Karim's side too, of course.

"I'm not going to tell you when, how, if it was possible before. The conditions were not met, they are today. If I made this decision, you can imagine that it was fine."