Liverpool are intensifying their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye, with the Reds looking to move ahead of rival clubs this summer.
The 18-year-old has emerged as one of the most captivating young talents in European football after graduating through PSG’s prestigious academy setup.
Mbaye holds the record as the youngest ever starter for PSG, having featured in the 4-1 victory over Le Havre on August 16, 2024, aged just 16 years and 205 days.
After initially representing France at youth level, Mbaye switched his international allegiance to Senegal, quickly making an immediate impression for the Teranga Lions.
He scored in his second appearance for Senegal during an emphatic 8-0 friendly victory over Kenya, signalling his potential on the international stage.
Mbaye went on to feature four times for Senegal at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, where he netted in a 3-1 defeat against France.
That goal made him both the youngest Senegalese player and the youngest African footballer to score at a World Cup, achieving the milestone at 18 years and 142 days old.
With two years remaining on his PSG contract, Liverpool have now made contact with the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, over a potential move to Anfield, according to CaughtOffside.
The Merseyside club are reportedly optimistic about completing a deal, with PSG expected to demand a fee between £34m and £42m for the winger.
Mbaye is said to be ‘eager’ to leave the Ligue 1 champions this summer and is attracted to Liverpool’s project under manager Andoni Iraola.
Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have also been credited with interest in Mbaye, but Liverpool appear to be pushing hardest to secure his signature at this stage.
Although Mbaye predominantly operates from the right wing, he is equally capable of performing from the left, giving Iraola a versatile attacking option.
Liverpool have also been linked with Mbaye’s PSG teammate Bradley Barcola, with CaughtOffside clarifying that Iraola’s side are pursuing both players in entirely separate deals.
Whether Liverpool will commit the financial resources needed to sign both Barcola and Mbaye this summer remains one of the more compelling transfer questions heading into the final weeks of the window.