PSG Face Major Transfer Developments Involving Maghnes Akliouche
PSG have received a concerning update on Maghnes Akliouche as Monaco refuse to lower their €50M asking price. The gap between the clubs is €15M-€20M.
Through its CEO, AS Monaco publicly responded to PSG’s interest in Maghnes Akliouche and confirmed that an agreement for the transfer remains a long way off.
Long admired by Luis Campos and Luis Enrique, Maghnes Akliouche could leave AS Monaco for PSG this summer. The Principality club must reduce its wage bill and raise funds during the transfer window, while PSG is looking to strengthen its wings following Lee Kang-in’s imminent move to Atlético Madrid and the potential departures of Ibrahim Mbaye and possibly Bradley Barcola.
Along with Yan Diomande, PSG has therefore decided to sign the 24-year-old France international this summer and has already reached an agreement with the player several weeks ago, according to the French media. The agreement is for a five-year contract and is contingent on PSG reaching a deal with AS Monaco.
According to L’Equipe, Monaco has already rejected two PSG offers, including a latest bid worth €35 million, and is asking €50 million for the player. Le Parisien, citing sources close to the negotiations, reports that the gap between the two clubs is €15 million to €20 million, suggesting Monaco could even be seeking €55 million.
On Wednesday, the club, which finished seventh in Ligue 1 and will not play in next season’s UEFA Champions League, introduced new head coach Filipe Luis, who succeeds Sébastien Pocognoli. AS Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro answered media questions during the presentation and sent a message to PSG: “Monaco is ready to keep Akliouche if there is no good agreement.”
Scuro then expanded on his comments, which also applied to other players: “It’s normal for clubs to be interested in profiles like Balogun, Akliouche and Camara. If we can reach a fair agreement for AS Monaco, we can have one tomorrow. If there is no fair agreement for AS Monaco, then there will be no agreement. Monaco has a reputation for developing its players, who are of high quality and in whom we have great belief. Now, for those involved in transfer discussions, we have to find the right conditions for AS Monaco. There are discussions every day—that’s what this period is for. It’s summer; it’s the transfer window.”
The Monaco executive also reminded reporters that Akliouche had already been expected to leave last summer: “We need to find financial solutions, not necessarily through Akliouche and Balogun. We need to find the right transfer balance during the summer—that’s the truth. But which players will leave? That will depend on what happens over the summer. It was the same last summer. There was a lot of information saying Akliouche would leave, but we found different solutions, and he ultimately stayed for another season. It was positive for him because he joined the national team this season, and now he is at the World Cup.”
The major difference compared to last year is that PSG is genuinely determined to sign Akliouche this time. The club has already made two offers and reached an agreement with the player, who appears ready to make the move and is unlikely to settle for a season without Champions League football.
With France still competing at the FIFA World Cup, PSG is also in no rush, and the negotiations are likely to accelerate once Les Bleus are either eliminated or crowned world champions on July 19.
Time also appears to favor PSG, which has every reason to prolong negotiations in the hope that Monaco, under pressure to sell, will eventually lower its asking price—especially if Akliouche continues to push for a move to Paris. “I hope we’ll find solutions,” Thiago Scuro also said on Wednesday, a sign of his willingness to negotiate Akliouche’s transfer with PSG.
Source: Psgworld.io
