Liverpool Are Facing Stiff Competition For This Ligue 1 Talent: Should Slot Get Him On Board? | OneFootball

In a recent report, journalist Mark Brus mentioned that Liverpool are facing stiff competition for Monaco talent Maghnes Akliouche. It has been claimed that the Reds would have to rival Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham Hotspur in the race to land the French wide player this summer.

Akliouche’s Impressive Form In French Football

Akliouche enjoyed an impressive campaign at the French club after he put in a series of productive performances for them in Ligue 1. The French attacker was involved in 43 matches for his current employers last season, scoring seven times and securing 12 assists on all fronts.

The 23-year-old has done well to average 2.28 shots per 90 minutes in Ligue 1. However, he has only kept 27.9% of his attempts on target. Still, Akliouche deserves credit for making 81.3% of his attempted passes in the English top tier (stats via fbref.com).

His current contract at the French club will run out in the summer of 2028 which could make it difficult for the Reds to sign Akliouche on the cheap in this transfer window.

LYON, FRANCE – AUGUST 05: Maghnes Akliouche of France in action during the Men’s semifinal match between France and Egypt during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Lyon on August 05, 2024 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Should Liverpool Boss Arne Slot Get Akliouche On Board?

Akliouche can strike the ball with power from long range but needs to work on hitting the target more often. The gifted wide player has got the vision to engineer a few inviting chances for his teammates in the final third. He is a good dribbler with the ball at his feet and can contribute by scoring and creating his fair share of goals in the final third.

The French sensation is primarily a right-winger but can also operate in the number ten position if asked to do so. However, only time will tell whether he can cope with the physicality and high intensity of the Premier League if the Reds manage to sign him this summer.

Akliouche would bring more quality and depth to Liverpool head coach Arne Slot’s attack. He could also help the Merseyside club compete across all competitions in the coming years.

At 23, the future looks quite promising for Akliouche as long as he continues to improve with each season. Therefore, Liverpool would be wise to get him on board this off-season. However, Slot needs to be patient with his progress before he can unlock the best out of the talented winger.