Watch out Richard Hughes! Liverpool could lose teenage sensation to PSG | OneFootball

Liverpool have had big success in recruiting for the youth and underage sides in recent seasons.

Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni are now fully-fledged first-team squad members with teen sensation Ngumoha making his senior international debut this week.

In January the acquisition of Mor Talla Ndiaye went through and there are high hopes for the Senegal teenager to make a senior breakout.

It looks like Liverpool are hoping to follow a similar West African path in the near future - as they have looked to Mali for their next potential superstar.

Bamako-based Academie Africa Foot have got a player dubbed the “Malian Messi” on their books in the shape of Aboubacar Maiga. The elegant attacking midfielder is now on the radar of Liverpool - with talks being held internally over his potential acquisition.

But the outgoing Premier League champions are not going to have it all their own way for the 16-year-old emerging star.

Liverpool want deal for Aboubacar Maiga

Manchester United represent fellow Premier League interest in the Malian according to a report in TEAMtalk - but it looks like Paris Saint-Germain are currently in the lead for his signature.

“Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as the frontrunners to sign highly-rated Malian wonderkid Aboubacar Maiga, despite long-standing interest from Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona,” the report reads.

"Liverpool and Manchester United have both closely monitored Maiga’s progress, and we understand that scouts from both clubs have followed his development for more than 12 months.

“Nicknamed the ‘Malian Messi’ by those who have watched him rise through the ranks, Maiga has been making waves at Academie Africa Foot, one of the continent’s most respected talent production lines.

“Liverpool, who have recently appointed Andoni Iraola as their head coach, and Michael Carrick’s Man Utd have both held discussions over a potential move.

"Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle United have also explored opportunities to bring the teenager to England.

“The French champions have accelerated their efforts in recent weeks, and Maiga is currently spending time in France as the club intensify their assessment of the teenager.”

Liverpool are therefore going to have to make a convincing case to Maiga and his representatives in order to keep him out of PSG’s clutches.

Aboubacar Maïga: Situation summary

Aboubacar Maïga is emerging as one of Africa’s most coveted teenage midfielders, a 16‑year‑old Malian playmaker shining for Académie Africa Foot in Bamako and the Mali U17s.

Slight but elusive, he operates as an attacking or central midfielder, stitching play together through tight ball‑carrying, disguise on his passing and genuine final‑third punch from both open play and set pieces.

His performances at recent WAFU/UFOA‑A U17 tournaments have fuelled the hype, with Maïga viewed locally as the team’s creative hub and widely labelled a potential “crack”.

That rise has put him at the centre of a developing tug‑of‑war between Barcelona and Paris Saint‑Germain, both tracking him closely as a strategic long‑term addition.

Barcelona’s long‑standing collaboration with Africa Foot and his previous trial spell in Catalonia make them the natural frontrunners on paper.

But PSG’s aggressive recruitment drive in African markets has introduced real jeopardy, turning Maïga’s next move into a classic two‑horse race that could crystallise once he turns 18 and becomes eligible for a European switch.