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Paris Saint-Germain’s wide rebuild is beginning to take shape this summer, but not without complications with Liverpool hovering around the same market.
The Ligue 1 champions have already moved into pole position for highly rated winger Yan Diomande.
According to reports from The Athletic and confirmed by L’Équipe, Diomande has told PSG directly that he wants to join the Parisian project this summer.
Liverpool had been pushing hard for the winger in recent weeks and had already made contact with the German club, but the player’s own desire to move to Paris has effectively shifted the balance of power.
At the same time, Liverpool’s attention has been drawn elsewhere, with strong links to Bradley Barcola.
But PSG will not make it easy for the Reds, and will demand “much higher” than the £116m deal for Elliot Anderson’s move to Manchester City.
That stance has forced Liverpool to keep alternative targets in mind as the transfer window evolves.
One such name now back in focus is Maghnes Akliouche.
According to reports in France, AS Monaco have rejected an opening bid of around €35m from PSG for the 22-year-old winger, despite the Paris club already agreeing personal terms on a five-year contract with the player.
Akliouche has long been admired across Europe, and Liverpool are among the clubs previously linked with the technically gifted wide man.
Monaco’s rejection suggests any deal will require a considerably improved offer, potentially opening a small window for other interested clubs to reassess their position.
While PSG remain confident of eventually securing the deal, delays could allow rivals to re-enter the conversation if circumstances shift.
From Liverpool’s point of view, the domino effect is clear. Should PSG land both Diomande and Akliouche in the same window, their depth across the flanks and half-spaces would significantly increase.
It could potentially pave the way for Barcola to move on. While PSG will still aim to protect, or even inflate, his valuation off the back of those additions, the underlying logic is hard to ignore.