Liverpool Eye Monaco’s Akliouche Amid PSG Interest

Liverpool have initiated contact to sign Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche, as the club seeks a replacement for Mohamed Salah. The France international, who has generated substantial interest from Paris Saint-Germain, is viewed as a key target following Salah’s departure at the season’s end.

Aklilouche enjoyed a standout season, netting seven goals and providing ten assists across 43 appearances. His performances included participation in the World Cup, where France fell to England in a thrilling third-place play-off that ended 6-4.

Liverpool’s interest aligns with their need for a new winger, especially given the competition for Akliouche’s signature from PSG. The French champions had made multiple unsuccessful attempts to secure the player, including an offer reportedly around £34 million, which Monaco swiftly rejected, thereby paving the way for Liverpool to escalate their bid.

Recently, the Reds secured Victor Munoz from Osasuna for £34.5 million, but manager Andoni Iraola emphasized the necessity for further reinforcements. During a press conference before the upcoming friendly against Sunderland, he stated, “We definitely need to sign a winger. You have to always be open to new options to improve the squad. There are obvious situations that we know where we need to sign players. A winger, for example – we definitely need to sign a winger.”

Iraola went on to outline that other squad needs exist, mentioning injuries to key players that limit their options. He remarked, “We have some tricky positions where we have injured players that we trust but is still not the ideal situation. So, it will depend on a lot of things.” This search for Akliouche follows Liverpool’s stalled pursuit of RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, where financial negotiations stood at £86 million compared to Leipzig’s £112 million asking price.

Given PSG’s continued interest, Liverpool must act promptly to formalize their interest in Akliouche, with the transfer window continuing to create a sense of urgency. Meanwhile, the team prepares for their friendly against Sunderland, aiming to bolster their squad before the upcoming season.