Liverpool Miss Out on £42.8m Mo Salah Replacement as PSG Signs Maghnes Akliouche

Liverpool have lost the race to sign Maghnes Akliouche, who has agreed to a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain. The 24-year-old attacker was seen as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah, with Liverpool making an approach earlier in July.

Tottenham Hotspur also showed strong interest in the versatile forward, who featured in France’s squad that reached the 2026 World Cup semi-finals. Despite this, PSG pushed ahead to secure the player.

Akliouche entered the final two years of his contract at Monaco without any signs of renewal, which led to negotiations between Monaco and PSG. A £42.8 million fee was agreed upon between the clubs just days ago.

Deal Confirmed Between Akliouche and PSG

According to Fabrizio Romano, after the clubs agreed on the transfer fee, Akliouche has now given his approval for the move. He is expected to sign a contract until 2031 and will complete his medical examination with PSG next week.

Akliouche has been with Monaco for nine years since joining from Torcy's academy. During his time there, he scored 23 goals and provided 28 assists in 139 appearances across all competitions. Last season, he contributed directly to 18 goals in 43 games, scoring seven times and assisting 11. This form caught the attention of France coach Didier Deschamps before the World Cup.

At the World Cup in North America, Akliouche had a minor role, featuring only for seven minutes as a substitute against Iraq and remaining unused in other matches.

Impact on Liverpool's Pursuit of Bradley Barcola

Missing out on Akliouche is a setback for Liverpool but not a major one, as he was not their primary target. His move to PSG might influence Liverpool’s efforts to sign Bradley Barcola, who is also linked with the French club and rumored to prefer a switch to Liverpool despite Arsenal interest.

Negotiations between Liverpool and PSG over Barcola continue, although PSG’s reported £145 million valuation seems unrealistic. Akliouche’s arrival could mean more competition for playing time in Paris, which might push Barcola toward leaving.

That said, Akliouche is likely viewed as a replacement for Ibrahim Mbaye, who may leave PSG soon. Since Akliouche and Mbaye play similar positions, Barcola's future might remain unaffected by this transfer.