Liverpool legend Ian Rush has quashed suggestions that the Reds will try to sign Kylian Mbappe this summer.

The French star is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this season and has been heavily linked with an exit from the Parc des Princes.

Real Madrid – who tried to sign him last summer – are the favourites to be Mbappe’s next club, but in recent days it has been reported that Liverpool are also monitoring the 23-year-old’s situation.

However, Rush believes that the Reds’ January signing of Luis Diaz from Porto – in a deal that could end up being worth £50million – means they will not go after Mbappe.

‘Given where they’re at right now, Madrid would be a bit of a risk for Mbappe, and the only other option for him would be to consider the Premier League,’ Rush told gambling.com. ‘But can anyone in England afford his wages?

‘We know City can, but I’m not sure if he’s Pep Guardiola’s type of player. I would imagine Liverpool signing Diaz rules them out of the Mbappe race.

‘We’d all love to have him in this team but Klopp is already planning for the future by spending big on Diaz and I don’t see a selling spree coming this summer, which would be necessary if Mbappe was in his plans.’

Rush also suggested that Liverpool don’t even need Mbappe as they already have a forward line packed full of quality.

‘The strength Jurgen Klopp has up front is already frightening – it’s as good as it gets – so I think we can now forget about adding Mbappe into the mix,’ he said.

‘Liverpool have an abundance of talent now but Klopp will always pick the team based on the opposition, and no one – maybe with the exception of Mohamed Salah – is guaranteed a starting place up front.

‘He’s got six or seven options now when everyone’s fit and each one of them offer different skills for different situations.’

Liverpool’s first choice front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota have scored 51 goals between them in all competitions this season.

Klopp has also been able to count on Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino and Harvey Elliott, before adding Diaz in January.