Liverpool have joined the race to sign a successor to right-winger Mohamed Salah but face serious competition from back-to-back Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports.
The Reds have made an ‘initial approach’ to Monaco regarding France winger Maghnes Akliouche, who has spent the last five seasons as part of the first team squad at the club where he completed his youth football.
PSG are understood to have made a number of formal bids for the 24-year-old, all rejected by Monaco. The World Cup winger was a regular in Ligue 1 under now-departed head coach Sebastien Pocognoli last season.
Liverpool have checked on ‘the potential availability’ of Maghnes Akliouche
Monaco, who have just appointed former Brazil, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea defender Filipe Luis as their new head coach, won’t let Akliouche leave on the cheap but he has two years left on his deal and this summer is likely to be their best chance to convert their efforts in developing him into a healthy profit.
Liverpool hold the significant advantage of not being a league rival but face a high asking price if their pursuit is being conducted with intent. PSG have reportedly had a bid as high as £34 million rejected.
“Liverpool were interested in RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande but RB Leipzig would only be open to selling the Ivory Coast international for an estimated £112m,” reports Sky Sports.
“The Reds indicated they were willing to pay £86m. Other options, such as Akliouche, are now being explored.
“Sky Sports News understands the club have checked on the potential availability of the 24-year-old France international.”
Akliouche, who is from the suburbs of north-eastern Paris, moved south to join the youth ranks of the Monegasque club nine years ago.
He ascended to first team status in 2021 and has now played 139 times for Monaco in all competitions, scoring 23 times and establishing a formidable reputation that culminated with his selection by Didier Deschamps for France’s World Cup squad in May.
The winger played seven minutes as a substitute in Les Bleus’ 3-0 win in their final group stage match against Iraq. He has now won 10 senior caps for the national side.
Akliouche produced a goal or assist every 200 minutes in Ligue 1 last season and operated primarily on the right wing, where the end of Salah’s time at Anfield has now left a gap that Iraola will be desperate to fill.
Liverpool have already made two signings for big fees this summer.
Spanish winger Victor Munoz has come in from Osasuna for a similar fee to the figure rejected by Monaco for Akliouche.
French defender Jeremy Jacquet cost the Reds a reported fee in the region of £54 million and will form part of new manager Andoni Iraola’s defensive corps after the departures of Ibrahima Konate to Real Madrid and Andrew Robertson to Tottenham Hotspur.
