Liverpool find themselves in the position of needing Ibrahim Mbaye’s signature ahead of the close of the summer transfer window.
Yet, according to The Athletic, sources close to the Reds’ exploration of a potential move “has gone no further”.
More to the point, reports indicating that the Merseysiders have already nailed down personal terms with the Senegal international are understood to be wide of the mark.
Liverpool could keep their powder dry with Ibrahim Mbaye
Andy Jones reports: “Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool are two of the clubs to have explored a move for the winger this summer, but senior club sources at Liverpool insist it has gone no further, dismissing reports that personal terms have been agreed.”
Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Fantastic… but that doesn’t change the fact we need a minimum of two forwards in through the doors this summer.
Now, bearing in mind that PSG are reportedly pricing Mbaye at around the £43m mark, it raises questions around how much Liverpool are prepared to spend on an additional attacker beyond Bradley Barcola.
We appreciate the Frenchman could still set us back north of £120m this summer, but we’re pretty convinced that our recruitment is going to struggle to find another suitable target considerably cheaper than Mbaye.
Regardless, we expect things will become somewhat clearer once we do eventually (hopefully) seal a permanent move for Barcola.
Mbaye fits what Liverpool are looking for in a winger
If you want our honest opinion: Liverpool need three attackers in through the door this summer. And that looks like two wingers and a central forward to give Alexander Isak some breathing room this season.
Now, if we all accept that we’re shifting the burden of goals to the central forward, then we can surely get on board with the notion that Liverpool need facilitators (in other words, chance creators) on the flanks.
In that case, Ibrahim Mbaye fits the bill perfectly, as Jones goes on to illustrate here: “He uses his acceleration and excellent turning to get out of tight spaces rather than into physical duels where opponents can dominate him. He frequently looks to drive forward with the ball, which often leads to chance creation rather than shooting opportunities for himself.”
Yes, he’s young (18) and extremely raw. Yes, the price tag seems a little… well… pricey. But in an inflated market, and with such an incredibly high ceiling on offer, we think £40m-50m for the right-sided winger could turn out to be a bargain move for Liverpool in the long run.
Better for the teenager to develop on our books than watch his value soar at another outfit prepared to spend time developing the footballer.
Whatever the case, we could do with a decision being made swiftly, given that there are only 12 days left before the summer transfer window slams shut.
Absolutely right. Mbaye should be our priority right now, even more than Barcola. Such a talent will surely develop under Iraola, and if we dont get him, he’ll go elsewhere and develop there. That’d be a real shame. And I still think we should go for Rayan over Barcola.
IMO – Double deal for £150m
Barcola is turning out to be expensive 🫰 however he is got a big talent,we need him.meanwhile Mbaye to me should have been the first signing at any cost without bargaining alot
Kunne gerne tænke mig oplysninger om nye køb 0g hold opstillinger tak.
FSG are so greedy and so stupid that they are ruined Jurgen’s team by making biggest mistakes after mistakes by Lying to Edwards about multiple club projects, Edwards resigned and left and his useless side kick Hughes- this clown 🤡 record in the transfer market is so embarrassing and bad , question is why did Edwards got him despite his terrible transfer track record? FSG are a laughing stock these clowns 🤡 have ruined Jurgen klopp’s team by employing a completely embarrassing and useless manager ( slot was a disaster in the first place blame Edwards for this useless manager!) back to Hughes this clown is wasting so much time and money by haggling over pathetically over the price of a player ( Barcola is perfect example!) transfer window closes in 10 days time and this useless clown 🤡 Hughes still hasn’t completed a transfer, blame penny pinching clowns 🤡 FSG, fans are going to get a rough ride in the new season that’s because FSG have screwed up the team transfer system !
Only 1 laughing stock and that is you.
Who brought in Wirtz, Isak, Kerkez, Leoni, Jaquet
and most of all Ireola ?
FSG are the best owners LFC have ever had.
So I suggest you go and give your head a wobble.
FSG the best owners Liverpool have ever had?
Only the clueless would say something like that.
You forget to mention what they tried to do with the super league.
I remember what we were under shankly and paisley with the chairman and owners we had then.
The only Ambition was to win trophies.
FSG only want to make money, they just made 1.6 billion out of Liverpool football club.
Greedy charlatan owners FSG.
Those two boys are very good singing for Liverpool we should act fast