Liverpool Set to Bid for PSG Winger Ibrahim Mbaye as Transfer Window Closes
Liverpool’s quiet summer is about to be tested. The club are expected to lodge an opening offer for Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye in the coming days, as Andoni Iraola pushes for late reinforcements before the Premier League kicks off.
So far, the European champions have barely flickered in the market. Victor Munoz is the only senior signing under Iraola, while defender Jeremy Jacquet has finally arrived after his January agreement. That’s a thin return for a squad that has been stripped of heavyweight names.
Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have all walked away on free transfers. Several others are being strongly linked with exits before the 1 September deadline. The result is a Liverpool squad that looks dangerously light for a club that expects to contest every trophy on offer.
Barcola the priority, Mbaye the opportunity
PSG’s Bradley Barcola remains Liverpool’s headline target for the remainder of the window. The France international has already agreed to make the move to Anfield, but the deal is stuck on one brutal number: an eye-watering £145 million asking price from the French champions.
That fee has turned negotiations into a stand-off. While that saga drags on, Liverpool have turned their gaze to another PSG talent.
Senegal winger Ibrahim Mbaye has emerged as a serious target, with L’Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi reporting that Liverpool are poised to submit their first bid. The 20-year-old is still relatively inexperienced at senior level, but his name has moved quickly up the Anfield agenda.
Sources indicate Mbaye is open to the switch. He wants regular first-team football, something that has been hard to come by in Paris. PSG, for their part, are prepared to cash in, but only at a substantial price despite his limited minutes.
They can afford to be firm. The French giants have already reshaped their attack, sealing the arrival of Spain international Ferran Torres from Barcelona just weeks after his World Cup final winner, and agreeing a deal with Ajax for Mika Godts. With fresh faces in the door, Mbaye’s path looks blocked.
Liverpool are not alone in spotting the opportunity. Bayer Leverkusen are also keen, adding Bundesliga competition to the race for his signature.
Iraola’s attacking options look thin
The timing is brutal. The Premier League season is less than a week away, and Iraola’s options in the final third are short of what a title-chasing side usually carries.
Up front, Alexander Isak stands as the recognised number nine. Behind him, the creative and wide roles are currently shared between Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz, Munoz and Harvey Elliott. It’s talent, yes, but not the depth or variety expected of a squad planning to go deep in multiple competitions.
That’s why the Mbaye pursuit matters. PSG are willing to sell. The player wants out. The framework for a deal is there, waiting to be pushed over the line.
The question now sits squarely with FSG. With the clock ticking and Liverpool’s squad stretched, this is no longer a theoretical debate about long-term planning. It’s a decision about whether they arm Iraola properly for a season that will not wait.
