Liverpool Rumors: Mbappe Snub Could Lead To Late Transfer Swoop For 'Next Cristiano Ronaldo'

With Kylian Mbappe’s transfer likely to be botched, Liverpool may have turned its sights on the “Next Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Despite being heavily linked to a move for Mbappe en route the final days of the transfer window, Liverpool is now expected to miss out on the Paris Saint-Germain striker.

However, the Reds might still be interested in raiding a couple of targets, including Sporting’s Pedro Goncalves, Liverpool.com reported.

It has been said that Liverpool has been keeping tabs on Goncalves this summer. Now that Mbappe is still nowhere near to making the switch to Anfield, the Portuguese has become “a realistic option” to fill the void, the report noted.

Though Liverpool is capable of signing a player like Goncalves, bringing him to the Merseyside club will not be a walk in the park as the attacker is set to renew his contract with Sporting this “September,” according to Portuguese outlet A Bola.

Another possible stumbling block for Goncalves’ transfer is the stance of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp with regards to new signings.

Klopp has recently insisted that he doesn’t see the need to bring in additional talent “unless something happens.”

“You have to make changes from time to time, but then there must be room to do it. We do not want more players. Unless something happens it makes no sense to add more players,” Klopp explained. “Everyone expects some player signings, (but) let’s go through the squad. Do you want to buy a new fullback? A new goalkeeper? We already have good players there."

"In midfield, we have players with a lot of experience, we have exciting young boys in Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones,” he added. “In attack, [Sadio] Mané, [Roberto] Firmino, [Mohamed] Salah, [Diogo] Jota, [Xherdan] Shaqiri, [Takumi] Minamino and [Divock] Origi. If you want to buy such players, you have to spend a lot of money. We do not have to do that, because the players are already here.”

Goncalves is considered one of Portugal’s future superstars. His incredible nose for goals has earned him comparisons to both his Sporting predecessors Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes.

Mbappe, on the other hand, appears to be staying in Paris after PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that the club’s president is “very clear” about keeping the French forward.

“Mbappé is our player,” Pochettino said. “The football industry is full of rumors. Our president and Leonardo are very clear. [Mbappe] He is here with us and I am very happy to have him. He is one of the best, he is a gift.”