Liverpool are on the verge of securing a major coup from Paris Saint-Germain, with Senegalese forward Ibrahim Mbaye reportedly edging closer to a transfer, overshadowing the long-rumoured pursuit of Bradley Barcola. Despite Barcola being a primary target following Mohamed Salah’s high-profile exit after nine years at Anfield, RMC Sport reveals that the Reds are set to finalize a deal for Mbaye ahead of any historic Barcola signing.
The Parisian giants are experiencing a blockbuster summer in the transfer market, already amassing nearly €150 million from the sales of Kang-in Lee to Atletico Madrid, Goncalo Ramos to AC Milan, and Randal Kolo Muani to Juventus. Amidst this frenzy, Mbaye, an 18-year-old striker with two years remaining on his PSG contract, has emerged as a highly coveted asset. However, with fierce competition for attacking roles and PSG’s pursuit of marquee names such as Julian Alvarez and Yan Diomande, Mbaye’s prospects for regular first-team football under coach Luis Enrique appear limited.
Valued between €35-45 million, Mbaye is not only attracting Liverpool’s interest but also drawing attention from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. Canal+ journalist Olivier Talleron recently suggested that Leverkusen might currently hold the upper hand in negotiations, contrasting with RMC Sport’s report that Mbaye is keen on developing his career on Merseyside. Meanwhile, talks over Barcola remain stalled, with Barcelona and Liverpool still far apart on the French winger’s valuation. PSG’s asking price reportedly exceeds €150 million, creating a significant hurdle as Liverpool aim to avoid an exorbitant outlay.
FourFourTwo clarifies that the pursuit of Mbaye is independent of Barcola’s potential transfer. While Barcola primarily operates as a left-winger, Mbaye is expected to strengthen the right-wing position, although both players are versatile enough to play across the front line. Liverpool’s recent acquisitions, including Victor Munoz, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak, and Hugo Ekitike, predominantly cover left-sided roles, highlighting a scarcity of options on the right flank. This imbalance may make Mbaye a strategic addition to provide tactical flexibility.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, linked with Mbaye, has experience deploying right-footed players on the right wing and left-footed players on the left, indicating the Senegalese forward’s adaptability. Transfermarkt currently values Mbaye at €30 million, underscoring his rising stock.
Liverpool’s Premier League campaign opens against Newcastle United, and the imminent acquisition of Mbaye could inject fresh attacking impetus as the Reds seek to rebuild their frontline in the post-Salah era. The club’s strategic manoeuvres in the transfer market are set to redefine their attacking options, with the Senegalese youngster poised to be a key figure in Jurgen Klopp’s evolving squad.