Andoni Iraola via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Liverpool are in the market to strengthen their forward options this summer, and Paris Saint-Germain star Ibrahim Mbaye would be open to a move to Anfield, GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs has revealed.
The Reds have had a quiet summer window so far, bringing in winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna and defender Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona, while youngster Jeremy Jacquet has also arrived after signing back in January.
But new manager Andoni Iraola is keen to strengthen his squad further in the final days of the window after losing all of Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson, and Curtis Jones, while there are major question marks over the future of Cody Gakpo amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
PSG star Barcola has been the club's top target in this window, but the European champions' £140m asking price has proven to be a major hurdle in any deal, despite the France international agreeing personal terms.
Liverpool have also seen two bids rejected for Brighton winger Minteh in recent days, with the latest a £60m bid for the Gambia international, who would be keen to make the switch to Anfield.
But speaking in his latest GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Jacobs revealed that the club have a number of potential options for the attacking positions, and Mbaye is another that they are considering.
"If they don't get Barcola, then we need to keep an eye on a combination of various names, some of which I've mentioned, and Ibrahim Mbaye has been on Liverpool's radar as well," he said.
PSG Want £60m for Mbaye
REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Liverpool clearly have the money to make deals happen, with a deal for Barcola likely to be their third in the last 12 months to exceed £100m, while Minteh is another who is being targeted for a relatively big fee.
Mbaye is desperate to leave PSG for more regular first-team football, but the Ligue 1 giants know the talent that they have on their hands and reports in France state that they are demanding €70m (£60m) to let the teenager leave.
Liverpool only value the Senegal international at around €50m (£42.8m), which is leading to talks stalling. But PSG won't be using Barcola or Mbaye in any of their games until the transfer window is closed, so Liverpool have a decision to make on getting their targets in, because they know a deal is there to be done.