Liverpool have made a transfer enquiry for Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche, with the French international reportedly learning English and open to a Premier League move. The Reds tested the water with the Ligue 1 side earlier in the transfer window as they scour the market to replace Mohamed Salah.
Akliouche, who has 23 goals and 28 assists in 139 appearances for Monaco, has also attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain. The Ligue 1 champions have had three bids knocked back, the most recent around £34m. Despite Liverpool's approach, PSG remain frontrunners for the 10-cap France international, who featured in Didier Deschamps' World Cup squad.
“Liverpool made an enquiry for Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche, who is open to a Premier League move and learning English.”
Head coach Andoni Iraola made clear the urgency. “We definitely need to sign a winger,” he said. “There are obvious situations where we need to sign players… It will depend on a lot of things. We have some tricky positions where we have injured players, that we trust, but it is still not the ideal situation.”
Liverpool have already signed Victor Munoz, who will join after Spain's World Cup campaign. The club were prepared to spend £86m on RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, but he has indicated a preference for PSG – a move which has not yet materialised. Other targets on Liverpool’s shortlist include Bradley Barcola, Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Said El Mala.
With Salah's departure leaving a gap on the right flank, the need for a winger remains acute. But PSG’s persistent pursuit of Akliouche – and the player's apparent willingness to learn English for a Premier League switch – means this transfer battle is far from over.