Former Liverpool star Takumi Minamino has praised his Monaco teammate Maghnes Akliouche, with the Reds having made an approach for the winger amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain
18:00, 23 Jul 2026
Maghnes AKLIOUCHE of France prior the 2026 FIFA World Cup - Semi Final match between France and Spain at AT&T Stadium on July 14, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Liverpool has made an approach for Maghnes Akliouche(Image: Getty Images)
Former Liverpool player Takumi Minamino has already offered valuable perspective on what the club might anticipate from Maghnes Akliouche. The duo have been colleagues at Monaco since 2022.
The Reds lodged an initial enquiry for Akliouche as the club presses on with its search for wide players this summer. Liverpool approached Monaco to establish Akliouche's availability earlier in the transfer window, with attacking options becoming a focal point following Mohamed Salah's departure.
The 24-year-old netted seven times and registered 11 assists for the Ligue 1 outfit last campaign. He has subsequently become a target for Paris Saint-Germain, which has allegedly seen three bids for Akliouche turned down.
Whether the France international will complete a move to Liverpool and join summer signing Victor Munoz in strengthening the club's wide alternatives remains uncertain. Nevertheless, former Anfield player Minamino has previously endorsed Akliouche with high praise, reports the Liverpool Echo.
"When I arrived at the club, I noticed him straight away, he was the best young player in the team," Minamino told Monaco's club website in December 2024. "He has huge potential and he showed it last year against several teams.
"He is always humble, he is a good player but also a good person above all. I am sure he will have a good future so I am happy to be able to play with him."
Takumi Minamino and Maghnes Akliouche playing for Monaco
Takumi Minamino and Akliouche have been Monaco teammates since 2022(Image: Valery HACHE / AFP via Getty Images)
Minamino served as a squad player throughout his spell at Liverpool, yet lined up alongside a number of legendary forwards during his time at Anfield. Shortly after his move to Monaco in 2022, Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to what the Japanese international, who made 55 appearances for the club and claimed the 2020 Premier League title, had contributed to the side.
"We miss him honestly. He is a fantastic player and he was a fantastic part of our squad," Klopp said. "We should not forget, as an offensive player coming to Liverpool in a time when the settled front three were Mane, Firmino, Salah; the new signing was Diogo Jota - it's not like you have to be a bad player to not be in the first lineup.
"No, you have to be a world-class player to be around [the starting XI] and to be the next coming on, so Taki [Minamino] did that incredibly well for us."
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Andoni Iraola will be eager to forge an equally formidable attacking unit during his tenure as Liverpool manager. Nevertheless, the new head coach has been candid about the need to bolster his wide options following the earlier acquisition of Munoz from Osasuna.
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"No, I think it is difficult to say a number when the market is open," Iraola said. "You have to be always open to new options to improve the squad. There are obvious situations where we need to sign players.
"A winger for example, we definitely need to sign a winger, but there are other situations where we will have to analyse what the market gives you, what is the cost, how we also see the players we have."