Liverpool Targets PSG Winger Ibrahim Mbaye Amid Transfer Urgency
Liverpool’s quiet summer may finally be about to stir, with the club expected to lodge an opening bid for Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye in the coming days.
New manager Andoni Iraola has walked into a dressing room stripped of depth and star power. Victor Munoz is the only senior signing so far, while defender Jeremy Jacquet has joined after his January agreement kicked in. Against that, Liverpool have waved goodbye to Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate on free transfers, and several more first-teamers are being heavily linked with exits before the 1 September deadline.
The result is a squad that looks alarmingly light for a club with ambitions of competing on all fronts.
Barcola the headline target, Mbaye the opportunity
PSG forward Bradley Barcola remains Liverpool’s headline attacking target for the remainder of the window. The France international has already agreed to the move, but the European champions’ £145 million valuation has slammed the brakes on negotiations and left Liverpool’s recruitment team searching for other ways to inject pace and goals into Iraola’s frontline.
That’s where Ibrahim Mbaye comes in.
The Senegal winger, also on PSG’s books, has emerged as a parallel target, with Liverpool now expected to test the French club’s resolve with a first formal offer, according to L’Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi. The interest is concrete, the timing pressing.
PSG, for their part, have been busy reshaping their own attack. Spain international Ferran Torres has arrived from Barcelona, fresh from scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final, while a deal has been agreed with Ajax for Mika Godts to head to Paris. Those moves push Mbaye further down the pecking order and open the door for suitors.
Player keen, but price remains an issue
GIVEMESPORT sources indicate Mbaye would be open to a move to Anfield. He wants regular first-team football and sees the Premier League as a stage to grow into a major figure. PSG, though, are still demanding a sizeable fee despite his limited top-level experience.
That hasn’t scared off the competition. Bayer Leverkusen are also tracking the player and are ready to rival Liverpool for his signature, sensing the same opportunity: a talented winger squeezed by big-name arrivals and eager to play.
Iraola’s attacking options look thin
With less than a week until the Premier League kicks off, Iraola’s attacking options are worryingly sparse for a club of Liverpool’s stature.
Alexander Isak stands as the lone out-and-out number nine. Behind him, Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz, Munoz and Harvey Elliott can operate in the supporting roles. It’s a group with quality, but not nearly enough numbers or variety for a side aiming to fight on multiple fronts and maintain a relentless tempo across a long season.
In that context, Mbaye represents more than just a speculative punt. PSG are prepared to let him leave, the player wants out, and Liverpool need bodies — and ideally, impact — in wide areas. The framework for a deal is there.
Now the pressure shifts to FSG. With the clock ticking and Iraola waiting for the tools to shape his Liverpool, the question is no longer whether Mbaye is available, but whether the owners are ready to move decisively and pay what it takes.
