Liverpool’s transfer plans for this summer were dealt a body blow earlier this week. Reports that Yan Diomande favours a move to Paris Saint-Germain have given Andoni Iraola and sporting director Richard Hughes much to ponder.
The 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger, who is currently lighting up the World Cup, was viewed as Liverpool’s primary target this summer. The departure of Mohamed Salah means the Reds are on the lookout for a high-class winger, but the identity of his replacement doesn’t appear to be Diomande.
Today’s news sees the back-to-back European champions potentially strike another transfer blow against the Reds. Elsewhere, Iraola has been given a stern warning about one of his current players ahead of next season.
Maghnes Akliouche has informed Liverpool that his priority is to join Paris Saint-Germain this summer, according to TeamTalk. The 24-year-old has been one of the bright lights in Ligue 1 over the past year, earning a place in Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad after he impressed for Monaco.
Clubs such as Man Utd, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have all watched Akliouche this season, according to reports.
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The article claims that PSG have been in touch with Akliouche’s representatives this summer and the player wants to sign for Luis Enrique’s team. Talks are said to be progressing with a £60million deal possibly in the pipeline.
View 3 ImagesMaghnes Akliouche has shone at Monaco(Image: 2024 Soccrates Images B.V.)
Akliouche has been speculated as a potential Salah replacement for Liverpool, with his ability to play on both wings and in an attacking midfield area.
Barring a late dramatic twist, it appears PSG have usurped the Reds once again this summer when it comes to the continent’s youngest and hottest talent.
Iraola has been told he must get the best out of Florian Wirtz next season. Wirtz signed for Liverpool 12 months ago from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £116m. But he endured a difficult season at Anfield under Arne Slot.
The German, who is currently representing his country at the World Cup, ultimately scored seven goals and recorded eight assists across all competitions.
Vladimir Smicer, who won the Champions League in 2005 with Liverpool, believes the Reds’ new head coach needs to figure out how to utilise the 23-year-old.
“I think the price tag and the transfer money from Leverkusen to Liverpool was big, and the pressure was on Wirtz with statistics about how much his goals and assists cost,” Smicer told Casinostugan.
“But a player like him will be under pressure all the time. You have to perform for Liverpool, and now for Germany. They will expect a lot from him. Two years ago at the European Championship, expectations were not that high, but this time he’s two years older and has more experience.
View 3 ImagesFlorian Wirtz has been backed to push on next season for Liverpool. (Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“They need to build the German team around him. At Leverkusen, the team was built for him and he was a free player with wingers on the side and a striker. In Liverpool, we were trying to find his best position all season. He was playing right, left, as a striker, and behind the striker.
“If you buy a player for 130 million euros, you need to put him in his favourite position and build the team around him. If you buy Wirtz and play him as a left-winger, you throw that money away. You need to play him in his best position and then change other players.”
Smicer added: “If you spend that kind of money on Alexander Isak or Florian Wirtz, you must play them in their best position. That’s the hard thing.
“If you play Wirtz as a winger, he will never give you as much. He will still perform, but he’s not going to be at his best. So I hope for him and for Germany that they play him in his best position so he can perform… I just hope Andoni Iraola will find his position.”
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