Liverpool Miss Out on £42.8m Mo Salah Replacement as Player Commits to PSG

Liverpool have lost the race to sign Maghnes Akliouche, who has agreed a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain after a £42.8m transfer deal was finalized. The 24-year-old forward, once seen as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah, was targeted by the Reds earlier this month but ultimately opted for the French champions.

Competition From Tottenham and PSG

Tottenham Hotspur also showed strong interest in the versatile attacker, who played a role in France's run to the 2026 World Cup semi-finals. Despite these pursuits, PSG took the lead by agreeing terms with Monaco first. Akliouche had two years remaining on his Monaco contract, which he has not extended, making him available for transfer.

Contract Details and Career at Monaco

According to Fabrizio Romano, an agreement between PSG and Akliouche is now confirmed following the clubs' handshake on the transfer fee. Akliouche is expected to complete his medical next week and will sign a deal until 2031. He joined Monaco's academy from Torcy nine years ago and has since scored 23 goals and provided 28 assists across 139 appearances in all competitions.

• Last Season Stats: 7 goals, 11 assists in 43 matches
• Total Monaco Appearances: 139 matches
• Goal Contributions: 51 (23 goals + 28 assists)

Limited Role in the 2026 World Cup

Despite being part of the French squad, Akliouche played a minor role at the World Cup in North America. He was mostly an unused substitute, clocking only seven minutes during the tournament in a match against Iraq.

Impact on Liverpool’s Transfer Plans

Liverpool missing out on Akliouche is a setback, though he was not their main target. This move may influence the Reds’ pursuit of another French talent, Bradley Barcola, who faces increased competition for playing time at PSG due to Akliouche's arrival.

Barcola reportedly prefers a switch to Liverpool over other suitors like Arsenal, and talks between Liverpool and PSG are expected to continue, despite PSG’s high valuation near £145m, which seems unlikely to be met.

Positional Differences and Future Prospects

Akliouche might be seen as a replacement for Ibrahim Mbaye at PSG rather than affecting Barcola's chances, as Mbaye and Akliouche play similar roles, whereas Barcola occupies a different position. This could mean Akliouche’s signing does not directly help Liverpool’s interest in Barcola.