Liverpool's summer transfer plans have suffered another significant setback. Reports indicate that Maghnes Akliouche, a primary alternative to Yan Diomande, has informed Liverpool that his priority is to join Paris Saint-Germain. According to TeamTalk, the 24-year-old Monaco winger, who has earned a place in Didier Deschamps' World Cup squad, has been in contact with PSG and wants to play for Luis Enrique's team. Talks are reportedly progressing, with a £60 million deal possibly in the pipeline.
PSG Poaches Another Target
This news comes shortly after reports that Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger and Liverpool's primary target, also favors a move to PSG. The back-to-back European champions appear to have usurped the Reds once again in the race for young talent. Akliouche was seen as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah, with his ability to play on both wings and in attacking midfield. Clubs such as Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United have also monitored him, but PSG now leads the race.
Iraola Warned About Wirtz
Meanwhile, Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola has been issued a stern warning regarding Florian Wirtz. The 23-year-old German midfielder signed for Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen 12 months ago in a deal worth up to £116 million but endured a difficult season under Arne Slot, scoring seven goals and recording eight assists across all competitions.
Vladimir Smicer, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, emphasized the need to play Wirtz in his best position. Smicer told Casinostugan: "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."
Wirtz, currently representing Germany at the World Cup, played in multiple positions last season. Smicer added: "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."
Building the Team Around Wirtz
Smicer urged Iraola to find Wirtz's optimal role quickly. "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. I hope Andoni Iraola will find his position."
With Salah's departure looming, Liverpool's need for a high-class winger is pressing. However, the club faces stiff competition from PSG, which seems to be winning the battle for top young talents. Iraola must also address Wirtz's integration to maximize the team's potential next season.
