Sky Sports: Liverpool ready to hijack deal for French star | OneFootball

Liverpool Make Initial Approach for Maghnes Akliouche as Winger Search Intensifies

Liverpool have taken an early step in their search for attacking reinforcements, with Sky Sports reporting that the club “have made an initial approach” to Monaco regarding Maghnes Akliouche.

The enquiry is understood to have centred on the potential availability of the 24-year-old France international, who is also attracting serious interest from Paris Saint-Germain. According to the same report, PSG regard Akliouche as a “prime target” and have already submitted multiple bids, the latest believed to be around £34m, all of which have been rejected by Monaco.

Maghnes Akliouche emerges in Liverpool transfer plans

Liverpool’s admiration for French attacking talent has been well established in recent weeks. Bradley Barcola has featured prominently in discussions, with strong suggestions that he remains a leading option. Michael Olise has also been mentioned externally. Yet it is Akliouche who now appears to have prompted concrete movement from Anfield.

That matters. In a market where many clubs are still positioning themselves, an initial approach often signals more than casual background checks. It does not guarantee a bid or formal negotiations, but it shows Liverpool are actively assessing whether a deal is achievable, both financially and structurally.

Akliouche’s profile will appeal for several reasons. He is comfortable on the right, can operate across the forward line, and has shown the kind of technical quality that makes him attractive to clubs chasing high-upside attackers. He also impressed in Monaco’s 3-1 win over PSG in March, a match watched by Liverpool scouts, contributing a goal and an assist.

Bradley Barcola comparison shapes the market

Barcola may still be viewed internally as the premium option, but the economics of any deal could become decisive. Reports have suggested Liverpool are weighing a package of around £85m for the PSG winger, which would place him in a very different bracket to Akliouche.

Monaco’s valuation of Akliouche has previously been reported in the region of €60m to €70m, equivalent to around £51.2m to £59.7m. If that remains accurate, Liverpool may be looking at a player who is significantly more attainable while still offering age, versatility and room for development.

There are questions around end product. Akliouche’s senior return of 23 goals and 28 assists in 139 appearances suggests there is further growth required in the final third. Even so, recruitment at this level is often about trajectory as much as finished output, especially when the player has already drawn strong domestic and European interest.

Liverpool transfer strategy points to right-side priority

The wider context is impossible to ignore. Liverpool are examining options in attacking areas and Akliouche appears to fit a specific need, particularly on the right side. That positional suitability could elevate him from alternative to genuine contender, depending on how other pursuits develop.

For now, the situation is best viewed as active but early. Liverpool have made contact, Monaco have yet to budge for PSG, and the shape of any eventual deal may depend on whether the French club are prepared to soften their stance. What is clear is that Akliouche has moved firmly onto Liverpool’s shortlist, and that alone makes this one to watch closely in the weeks ahead.

Our View

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this report feels interesting, but not wholly convincing yet. Akliouche is clearly talented, and if Liverpool have made an approach then he will have been assessed in detail. The concern is whether this is a serious move for a first-choice target or simply groundwork being laid while bigger priorities remain unresolved.

That distinction matters. Liverpool cannot afford to drift through another key window half-deciding what they want from the forward line. If the club believe Akliouche is the right fit for the system, then fine, go and do the deal decisively. If he is only the more affordable name after Barcola, that raises the usual fears about compromise.

There is also the question of output. Versatility sounds good in recruitment briefings, but supporters will look at the numbers and wonder whether this is a player ready to transform Liverpool’s attack immediately. Potential is useful, but Liverpool need certainty in at least some of these big calls.

PSG’s interest does add credibility, and Monaco’s refusal to sell cheaply suggests they know they have a valuable asset. Still, fans will want more than market noise. They will want evidence that Liverpool have a clear plan, a settled first choice, and the conviction to follow through. Until that happens, scepticism is fair.