Arsenal Invincibles winger Robert Pires has admitted that he would like to see Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe line up for Liverpool next season.
The 25-year-old informed the French champions earlier this year that he would be leaving the club when his contract expires this summer, having already refused to take up his 12-month extension.
Neither Mbappe nor PSG are yet to officially confirm the parting of the ways, but first-team manager Luis Enrique has alluded to the forward's exit on more than one occasion in recent months.
Despite inevitable rumours surrounding a Premier League move, Mbappe is widely expected to fulfil his dream of representing Real Madrid and is said to have agreed a deal in principle with Carlo Ancelotti's side.
However, the former Monaco starlet has already rejected Real Madrid on one occasion, memorably snubbing Los Blancos in 2022 in order to sign a new contract at PSG, and Pires believes that he could be tempted to perform a sensational U-turn again.
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Mbappe could 'explode' alongside Liverpool star
Arsenal, whom Pires won two Premier League titles with, have been touted as a possible destination for Mbappe should he wish to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Thierry Henry in the Mikel Arteta project.
Despite his long-standing association with the North London giants, Pires snubbed the Gunners as a club he would like to see Mbappe represent, instead giving Liverpool his vote of confidence.
Speaking to French outlet Media Carre - as quoted by The Mirror - the 50-year-old reflected on his own decision to turn down Real Madrid and claimed that Mbappe and Mohamed Salah could form an "explosive" attack on Merseyside.
"I'm sorry Kylian, you weren't the first to say no to Real Madrid. I don't know what decision he will make, but I rejected Real because I had two other options. Surely if I didn't have Arsenal and Juve, I would have gone straight to Real. That is sure," Pires said.
"I would like to see him at Liverpool. It's a great club, family, good structure, no pressure, calm fans... And I tell myself that Mbappe and [Mohamed] Salah could be quite explosive. I think he is capable of rejecting Real Madrid."
How realistic are Liverpool's chances of signing Mbappe?
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After bursting onto the scene with Monaco during the 2016-17 campaign, Mbappe was apparently courted by Liverpool before opting to remain in France with PSG, where he is now their all-time leading goalscorer in all tournaments.
Despite turning his nose up to a move to the Premier League, Liverpool have supposedly never ended contact with Mbappe's entourage and were regarded as Real's biggest competition for his services in 2022, when it appeared he would become a free agent.
Fast-forward two years, and links with the Reds naturally re-emerged when it was revealed that the 25-year-old would not extend his PSG deal until 2025, when Salah's Liverpool contract is also due to expire.
While it is therefore not beyond the realm of possibility that Liverpool could regard Mbappe as a successor to the Egyptian wing wizard - who will be targeted by Saudi Pro League clubs once again this summer - there is one stumbling block too big to overcome; money.
No fee will have to be paid to PSG this summer, but Liverpool are unwilling to smash their wage structure in order to lure Mbappe to Anfield, even without the Frenchman's reported pact with Real Madrid. As a result, Pires's wish for an "explosive" Salah-Mbappe partnership will remain a mere pipe dream for now.
Ben Knapton
