Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe is currently the best player in Europe, according to Liverpool's outgoing director of research Dr Ian Graham.
Dr Graham, who announced last November that he would be leaving Anfield at the end of the season after more than a decade of service, has been at the forefront of statistical data's rise in elite-level football. The Welshman, who has a PhD in Physics from Cambridge University, has been responsible for some of the most important signings of the Jurgen Klopp era, including both Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.
And speaking at the Cheltenham Science Festival earlier this week, Graham lifted the lid on the statistics behind some of the game's best footballers, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but admitted it was in fact Mbappe who is currently the best footballer in Europe, according to statistical models.
“Any statistical model will tell you that Kylian Mbappe is the best player in Europe at the moment,” said Graham (via The Guardian). “But unfortunately, financially, he’s out of Liverpool’s league. We’re looking for the best-performing players per pound.”
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Mbappe, the top scorer at the 2022 World Cup, confirmed he held discussions with the Reds prior to putting pen to paper on a new contract in Paris ahead of the 2022/23 season, telling the Telegraph: “We talked a little bit, but not too much. We talked a little bit.“
Despite being priced out of a move for the France international, Liverpool have already added to their ranks this summer with the addition of Brighton & Hove Albion star Alexis Mac Allister. The midfielder is expected to be the first of many signings during the coming months at Anfield.
Sticking with Graham's theme of best-performing players per pound, Reds officials moved swiftly to bring Mac Allister to L4 after being alerted to a release clause in the contract he signed with the Seagulls back in October.
Mac Allister, who was part of the Argentina side that beat Mbappe's France team on penalties in the World Cup final in December, said: “It feels amazing. It’s a dream come true, it’s amazing to be here and I can’t wait to get started."
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