Journalist: Man United looking to hijack £42m move for Liverpool-linked forward | OneFootball

Liverpool Cool Ibrahim Mbaye Interest as Manchester United Circle PSG Winger

Liverpool’s summer planning around the forward line has taken another intriguing turn, with fresh reporting suggesting the club have stepped back from a move for Ibrahim Mbaye as Manchester United begin to explore the situation with Paris Saint-Germain.

According to Sebastien Vidal, Liverpool have “cooled” their interest in the Senegal international because of PSG’s valuation, which is understood to be around €50m, or £42.7m. The same report states that Manchester United have now made enquiries regarding the 18-year-old winger.

That development is notable for two reasons. First, Liverpool are still believed to want another attacker in addition to Bradley Barcola. Second, PSG’s asking price appears to have created hesitation at Anfield, despite Mbaye being seen as one of the more exciting young wide options on the market.

Ibrahim Mbaye Price Raises Liverpool Questions

For Liverpool, the issue seems less about player quality and more about valuation. Mbaye is highly regarded, carries obvious upside and fits the age profile of a signing with long-term resale potential. Yet £42.7m for an 18-year-old with limited senior experience is the sort of figure that can divide recruitment teams, particularly when multiple attacking roles may still need addressing before the window closes.

There is a wider context here too. Liverpool’s forward department still feels in flux. If the club are indeed considering another wide player alongside Barcola, then every major outlay will be weighed against the possibility of needing cover through the middle as well. Squad-building rarely happens in isolation, and that may explain why enthusiasm for Mbaye has softened rather than disappeared completely.

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Manchester United Enter Mbaye Conversation

Manchester United’s enquiry adds pressure to the situation, even at this early stage. Clubs often check on availability and terms without pushing immediately, but these initial contacts can quickly develop if selling clubs prove receptive. The fact PSG are willing to discuss Mbaye at around £42.7m suggests there is a deal to be done for anyone prepared to meet the number.

From United’s perspective, it is understandable. Young elite-level attackers with pace, directness and room for development are difficult to source, and Mbaye appears to fall squarely into that category. If Liverpool are pausing, rivals may see an opportunity to move first.

Liverpool Transfer Priority May Shift Up Front

The bigger question for Liverpool is whether the next attacking addition comes from the wing market or through the centre. Alexander Isak remains the headline striker at the club, but relying too heavily on one focal point across a full campaign carries obvious risk. In Andoni Iraola’s system, the demands on the central forward are intense, and depth in that area could yet become more urgent than another right-sided option.

That helps explain why Liverpool may be reluctant to commit £42.7m on Mbaye unless they are fully convinced he represents outstanding value. Cooling interest does not always mean ending it, but it can be a sign that a club is reassessing where its money is best spent.

Our View

As a Liverpool supporter, this report is hard to read without a fair bit of frustration. The club know the attack needs work, everyone can see it, and yet the familiar pattern appears to be emerging again. A talented young forward becomes available, the fee is significant but far from outrageous in the current market, and Liverpool suddenly seem to hesitate while others move.

If Mbaye is good enough to pursue, then £42.7m for one of Europe’s top teenage attackers should not automatically send the club backing away. This is the same market where average players go for huge sums. Waiting around for the perfect price often means ending up with no signing at all.

There is also a deeper concern here about whether Liverpool are trying to solve too many attacking problems with too little urgency. If Barcola arrives, excellent. If another winger follows, even better. But there still has to be proper support for Isak as well. A team with serious ambitions cannot head into a long season hoping one elite striker stays fit and available every week.

Supporters do not expect reckless spending, but they do expect conviction. Right now, this feels like caution drifting towards passivity, and that is a dangerous place to be in a market where decisive clubs get the best deals done.