**Liverpool are in pole position to sign Ibrahim Mbaye this summer in addition to the ongoing talks to bring Bradley Barcola to the club.**
PSG want a fee in the range of €40 million (£34.3m) and €50 million (£42.8m) for Mbaye this summer, who is keen on making the move to Merseyside.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are “leading the race” to sign the teenager ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, who would be a very smart choice for Mbaye. He would arguably get a lot more game time and room to develop in the Bundesliga, but a move to Anfield does mean that if he makes the grade, he won’t need another transfer to reach the top level again.
Speaking on GiveMeSport’s [‘Market Madness’ podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERXkFIe5tjA), Romano said: _“There is genuine interest in Ibrahim Mbaye, there is a conversation with the new agent of the player, Jorge Mendes._
_“Bayer Leverkusen were pushing, but now Liverpool are leading the race. Let’s see, financially, if they can reach an agreement with PSG.”_
Mbaye is an exciting talent, but he will need time to adjust to the Premier League
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While I believe Mbaye is well-suited to the Premier League, the intensity and relentless nature of the English top flight can often take newcomers by surprise.
Defenders in England are ruthless and offer little to no time on the ball, while Ligue 1 offers a little more room for wingers, in particular, to operate in, but Mbaye will not get that if he gets the move to Anfield.
That said, this could actually play into his hands (or feet). The Senegal star is best when under pressure. It may sound odd, but his brand of dribbling is reactive more than most. What I mean by this is that he adapts to whatever the incoming pressure is, unlike someone like Rio Ngumoha, who prefers to stand his defender up and get him right where he wants him before bursting into space or forcing a mistake.
Mbaye, on the other hand, drives at defenders, waiting for the right moment to strike, and is very good at handling multiple defenders at once.
All this in mind, he is still just 18 and the step up to the Premier League is a big one. However, his responsibility will be shared across the front line and he won’t be under pressure to lead the line unlike Alexander Isak or current teammate Bradley Barcola, who is expected to make the move to Anfield as well.