How FSG can win bidding war to sign dream Akliouche upgrade for Liverpool

The 2026/27 Premier League season starts in under a month, and there is no question that Liverpool‘s squad is weaker than it was last year.

Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have all departed on free transfers, while Hugo Ekitike faces many more months of recuperation after rupturing his Achilles heel during Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in April.

It is up top where fan concerns are most acutely felt. Victor Munoz has joined from Osasuna for £35.5m, but the flashy winger, 23 years old, is unlikely to take on a talismanic role for Andoni Iraola‘s side next year.

More, it should go without saying, is needed.

Why Liverpool still need multiple attacking additions

Several Liverpool supporters are developing understandable concern about their side’s lack of progress in the transfer market.

While Munoz has been signed, and efforts continue to sign Paris Saint-Germain superstar Bradley Barcola, FSG still haven’t replaced Salah on the right.

Currently, Federico Chiesa is Liverpool’s leading man on the right wing. He has few competitors for the starting berth. Perhaps you could also consider Harvey Elliott in that bracket, which maybe underscores the importance of making another signing – pronto.

Maghnes Akliouche has emerged as a leading contender to replace Salah, with Liverpool making initial contact with Monaco this week as they consider battling Paris Saint-Germain for the French playmaker’s signature.

Akliouche is a talented attacker, silky and creative on the ball. He would differ greatly to Salah, serving the main performers, rather than starring on centre-stage.

That’s fine, especially since Liverpool’s focal goal threat should be reoriented to number nine, where Alexander Isak hungers for a return to world-class scoring form.

But even so, Liverpool could do even better and sign one of the market’s most in-demand attackers.

Liverpool to enter bidding war for superstar forward

Liverpool are on the case, but they need to pick up speed. Barcola is the top target, but the right side is not his favoured zone, so whether he would actually be the perfect Akliouche is a valid question.

Should the Reds pivot, they could turn to one of the most exciting names on the market.

REUTERS/Sam Navarro

According to BILD over in Germany, the race for RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande is still five horses long as a ‘bidding war’ appears ever more likely – and Liverpool haven’t given up as PSG continue to stall.

Liverpool were knocked back last month when the Ivory Coast winger, 19, informed his club that his dream destination is PSG. There was a sense on Merseyside that they had been used in order to leverage a move to France. But PSG aren’t advancing right now, seemingly hesitant to meet Leipzig’s €120m (£102m) demands.

One of football’s biggest breakout stars right now, Diomande excelled for his nation at the World Cup following an exceptional campaign with Leipzig in Germany.

He is a deadly goalscorer and a deft playmaker. His pace and intensity as a duellist make him one of the most threatening attackers in the world, and though he would cost more than someone like Akliouche, Liverpool would certainly get bang for their buck by completing the deal.

Diomande, the younger man by five years, is already hitting higher beats than his French positional rival. There is a reason his financial worth far eclipses Akliouche’s own, and there is indeed a reason that Liverpool would snap him up over any other target this summer, should they be given the chance.

Diomande has more to his game, and no mistake. Jurgen Klopp, while completing punditry work at the World Cup, hailed the teenager as “one of the best wingers in the world”, suggesting he is “unstoppable in one-vs-one situations”.

He has that rare ability to fashion one golden chance each game, invariably, as the best forwards do. It was the same for Salah, who could often be frustrated for 40, 50, 60 minutes, until finding one opening and striking on goal.

Akliouche has a lot in his locker, but not so many goals and so many assists. His is a different take on wingplay, and while it would work for Liverpool, Diomande would quite simply be that much better.

The Ivorian sensation might cost a pretty penny, but if PSG do continue to stall, there would be far worse outcomes this summer than sporting director Richard Hughes bows out having brought to Iraola’s project one of the few generational talents currently barging through to the top.