Liverpool to Make Opening Bid for PSG Winger Ibrahim Mbaye

Liverpool’s quiet summer may be about to crackle into life, with the club expected to lodge an opening offer for Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye in the coming days.

New manager Andoni Iraola has so far had to work with the bare minimum in terms of reinforcements. Only Victor Munoz has arrived to bolster the attack, while defender Jeremy Jacquet finally checked in after his January move was agreed months ago. For a club with Liverpool’s ambitions, that’s a thin return.

And the squad itself looks even thinner.

Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have all walked away on free transfers, stripping experience and leadership out of the dressing room in one swoop. Several others are being heavily linked with exits before the September 1 deadline. The clock is ticking, loudly.

Barcola the priority, Mbaye the opportunity

Liverpool’s top target remains PSG forward Bradley Barcola, but that pursuit is stuck in the mud. The European champions are demanding a staggering £145 million for the France international, a figure that has so far blocked any serious progress, even with the player understood to be willing to join the Premier League side.

So Liverpool are widening the net at the Parc des Princes.

Alongside Barcola, Senegal winger Ibrahim Mbaye has emerged as another serious option. According to L’Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi, Liverpool are now expected to table their first formal bid for the 21-year-old in the coming days, with PSG’s own transfer moves helping to open the door.

The French giants have already secured Spain international Ferran Torres from Barcelona, fresh from scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final, and have agreed a deal with Ajax for Mika Godts. With fresh attacking options arriving, Mbaye has slipped closer to the exit.

Sources indicate Mbaye is open to the move to Anfield. He wants regular first-team football and can see a clearer pathway in England than in Paris. PSG, though, are demanding a sizeable fee despite his relative inexperience, and they know they have more than one interested party: Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen are also keen on the winger.

Liverpool’s attacking numbers don’t add up

For Iraola, the need is immediate.

With less than a week until the Premier League season kicks off, Liverpool are short in key areas, particularly in attack. Alexander Isak stands as the main number nine, but the supporting cast behind him looks light for a club aiming to compete on multiple fronts.

Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz, Munoz and Harvey Elliott can all operate off the striker, yet that group alone is a fragile platform for a side that wants to fight deep into Europe and maintain a title challenge at home. One injury, one suspension, and the options start to look alarmingly bare.

That’s why Mbaye is more than just a speculative name on a list. PSG are willing to sell. The player wants out in search of minutes. The conditions for a deal are there.

Now the onus falls squarely on FSG. With the season about to start and the squad stretched, Liverpool’s owners have a simple decision in front of them: back Iraola in the market, or risk watching a crucial campaign begin with the squad already on the brink.