Liverpool close in on PSG starlet Mbaye as Iraola’s rebuild gathers pace
Liverpool are stepping on the gas to land Paris Saint-Germain livewire Ibrahim Mbaye, with personal terms settled on a five-year deal and talks over a fee primed to crank up. Word from France is that the move is motoring towards the finish line, while a potential tandem push for Bradley Barcola remains very much in play as Andoni Iraola hunts fresh firepower.
Why the urgency at Anfield?
It’s been an uneven tune-up for the Reds. They beat Sunderland 4-2 and Wrexham 1-0, but slipped against Leeds (2-4) and Monaco (2-3) before steadying with a 2-0 win over Como. After finishing a hefty 25 points behind champions Arsenal last term while defending their crown, the message is clear: sharpen the attack or risk treading water.
Only Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet have checked in at the AXA Training Centre so far. With Mohamed Salah departed and Hugo Ekitike sidelined long-term into 2027, Iraola’s wish list is headlined by pace, end product and positional flexibility across the front line — boxes Mbaye and Barcola can tick.
Who is Ibrahim Mbaye?
At just 18 — he doesn’t hit 19 until January — Mbaye already carries a senior pedigree. He’s featured 42 times for Champions League holders PSG and chipped in four goals from 15 caps with Senegal. Comfortable off either flank, he offers that punchy combination of acceleration, direct dribbling and a striker’s nose that unsettles full-backs from the first whistle.
The comparisons to Sadio Mané are inevitable and, truth be told, understandable. Even Mané has talked up the kid’s potential, calling him exceptional and stressing there’s a big future ahead if he keeps his head. That said, let’s keep our feet on the ground — being the “next Mané” is a label that can weigh heavy on young shoulders.
State of the deal
Personal terms: done. Next up: Liverpool and PSG haggling over the number. Bayer Leverkusen had been lurking but are no longer expected to push, clearing a lane for the Reds to accelerate. A double negotiation that also ropes in Barcola would make sense for all parties, but Liverpool won’t want one chase to stall the other as the window ticks on.
How would he fit Iraola’s plans?
Iraola’s blueprint thrives on intensity and width: wingers who run in behind, press like demons and commit defenders one-v-one. Mbaye screams that profile. He can rotate across the line with Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Alexander Isak, giving Liverpool the ability to stretch teams vertically and threaten on the counter as well as in settled possession. If he adapts quickly, the youngster could be a high-impact option off the bench before muscling into the XI.
Pundit’s verdict
This is smart recruitment with upside. The fee’s the swing factor, but in terms of skill set and ceiling, Mbaye fits what Liverpool have lacked since the peak of the Salah–Firmino–Mané era: raw pace, risk-taking on the dribble, and a ruthless streak at the far post. Just don’t saddle him with the full Mané narrative on day one — let the talent breathe and the rest will follow.
Elsewhere, the chatter won’t stop — even Paul Scholes has thrown in his top-six picks for the coming season — but Liverpool’s business will speak louder than any studio soundbite if they get Mbaye over the line.
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