Liverpool Accelerates Bid for PSG Wingers

Liverpool are accelerating their bid to reshape the attack, with a double swoop on Paris Saint-Germain gathering pace.

Ibrahim Mbaye’s move to Anfield is described as “progressing rapidly”, with the teenager understood to have agreed terms on a five-year deal running to 2031. Talks between the clubs are now expected to ramp up, with Liverpool pushing to close before the Premier League window shuts on September 1.

The 18-year-old, born in France but a Senegal international, had attracted strong interest from Bayer Leverkusen, but the German champions are now not expected to continue their pursuit. That clears a major obstacle for Liverpool as they move in on one of PSG’s brightest young wingers.

Barcola the chosen Salah heir

Liverpool are not stopping there. Bradley Barcola remains the preferred long-term successor to Mohamed Salah, who left Anfield at the end of last season and has since joined Trabzonspor.

French outlet RMC Sport report that Liverpool are preparing a new offer for the France international this week, with negotiations ongoing and a gap still to be bridged between the two clubs’ valuations. The intent from Merseyside is clear: they want Barcola, and they are willing to keep pushing.

The pressure around both deals spiked after PSG left Barcola and Mbaye out of the squad entirely for Sunday’s French Super Cup defeat against Lens. Their omission only fuelled speculation that exits are edging closer.

Asked about the pair after that loss, PSG head coach Luis Enrique refused to be drawn into the transfer noise. “I will only talk about the transfer window at the end of the transfer window, not before or after,” he said. “When the transfer window is closed, I will talk about all the subjects.”

Iraola’s attacking rebuild

Andoni Iraola has already overseen significant change at the back, with Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo arriving to reinforce the defence. Up front, though, the work is far from finished.

So far, the only attacking signing is Spain international Victor Munoz, snapped up when Liverpool triggered his £34.5 million release clause at Osasuna during the World Cup. Beyond Munoz, the frontline still leans heavily on record signing Alexander Isak and teenage prodigy Rio Ngumoha.

Hugo Ekitike’s long-term injury has thinned the options further, while uncertainty lingers over the futures of Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa at Anfield. The lack of depth has already forced Iraola to lean on the academy: Lewis Koumas, Will Wright, Trey Nyoni and Ifeanyi Ndukwe all featured prominently in pre-season.

Liverpool have yet to land a true marquee replacement for Salah, the defining figure of their modern era. In Barcola and Mbaye, they see the next wave: two PSG wingers, one established, one emerging, both capable of stretching defences and reshaping the club’s attacking identity.

Now the clock is ticking. With the window closing on September 1, Liverpool’s pursuit of PSG’s wide men is turning from ambition into a test of how ruthlessly they can finish the job.