Ibrahim Mbaye is under consideration at Liverpool this summer, with Andoni Iraola still in need of more quality in attack ahead of the new Premier League season getting underway
PSG forward Ibrahim Mbaye.
PSG forward Ibrahim Mbaye.(Image: Xavi Bonilla/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Liverpool wants to sign Bradley Barcola, and it is understood that interest in his 18-year-old PSG teammate, Ibrahim Mbaye, is separate from that pursuit.
Mbaye is among a number of attacking options under consideration at Anfield this summer, with Andoni Iraola's forward line in need of more quality following the exit of Mohamed Salah a year before his contract expired.
But according to Fabrizio Romano, a deal for Mbaye is currently viewed as too expensive. Neither Barcola nor Mbaye emerged from the bench as PSG beat Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup yesterday, with Desire Doue netting the winner.
Liverpool has already signed Victor Munoz for its attack this summer. The Spaniard arrived for a fee of around $47 million (£35 million) from Osasuna.
Rio Ngumoha is likely to play a bigger role next season, while Tottenham is interested in Cody Gakpo.
Federico Chiesa is another option, but he has only started one Premier League game in each of the last two matches. Hugo Ekitike could be out for another few months with his Achilles injury.
PSG duo Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola.
PSG duo Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola.(Image: FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)
But adding Barcola and Mbaye would have a transformative impact at Anfield in terms of the options available.
"I think quite similar to the game we played against Leeds," Iraola said after his side lost 3-2 against AS Monaco last weekend.
"I think we played really good [in the] first half, especially the first 30 minutes. But right now probably we don’t have much more in terms of the level required to play like this.
"Then they were much better in the second half, in the same way were better in the first half they were much better in the second half, and they deserved to turn around the game, yes.
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"I think we are, right now, especially considering we won the first two games, but the last two, we cannot sustain the level that we want for all the game.
"As soon as we have made some changes, they start to get tired. We cannot sustain that level, so we have work to do."
Liverpool.com says: Mbaye, for the right fee, appears to be a strong option for the Reds. At 18, he would also come with the advantage of not needing to be named in the Premier League squad because he is younger than 21.
Getting Barcola in is priority number one, however. The Frenchman is the top target, but not the only one.