Liverpool Prepares Bid for PSG Winger Ibrahim Mbaye

Liverpool are preparing an opening offer for Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye as Andoni Iraola’s threadbare squad edges towards the start of the new Premier League season.

The club have moved slowly this summer. Victor Munoz is the only senior signing of the Iraola era so far, while defender Jeremy Jacquet has finally checked in after his January deal was completed. That’s it.

The departures tell a very different story. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have all walked away on free transfers, stripping Liverpool of experience, leadership and depth in one hit. Several more players are being strongly linked with moves before the 1 September deadline. For a club with title ambitions, the squad looks alarmingly light.

Barcola the marquee dream, Mbaye the attainable move

PSG’s Bradley Barcola remains Liverpool’s headline target for the remainder of the window, but the European champions have slapped a huge £145 million price tag on the France international. The player is understood to be ready to join Liverpool, yet that fee has stalled any progress and forced the Anfield hierarchy to look at other ways of prising talent out of Paris.

That is where Ibrahim Mbaye comes in.

The Senegal winger, also on the books at PSG, has emerged as a live target. According to L’Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi, Liverpool are expected to submit their first offer for Mbaye in the coming days, with the French champions now open to trimming their attacking options.

PSG have already reshaped their forward line. 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 the Parc des Princes. Those moves have nudged Mbaye further down the pecking order and closer to the exit.

Player keen, but PSG want a premium

Sources indicate Mbaye would be open to a move to Anfield. He wants regular first-team football, something that has been hard to come by in Paris, and sees Liverpool as a platform to accelerate his career. Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen are also interested, adding pressure on Liverpool to turn admiration into a concrete bid.

PSG, though, are still demanding a sizeable fee despite Mbaye’s limited top-level experience. The French club know they hold a player with upside and no shortage of suitors. Liverpool will have to decide how far they are willing to go financially for a winger who is more promise than finished product.

Liverpool running out of time

The timing is brutal. The Premier League season kicks off in less than a week and Iraola’s options are thin, especially in attack.

Right now, Alexander Isak stands as the primary number nine. Behind him, Iraola can call on Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz, Munoz and Harvey Elliott. On paper, that is a talented group. In reality, it is nowhere near deep enough for a club expecting to compete on multiple fronts and live with the intensity of a title race and European nights.

Mbaye is available. PSG are prepared to sell. The player wants out. The ingredients for a deal are there.

It now comes down to whether FSG are willing to move quickly and decisively. With the clock ticking and rivals strengthening, Liverpool’s next bid out of Paris will say plenty about how serious they are about this season.