Maghnes Akliouche's transfer intention clear as Liverpool approach for star confirmed

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Maghnes Akliouche is reportedly learning English and open to a Premier League move after Liverpool made a transfer enquiry. The Reds tested the water with Ligue 1 side, AS Monaco, for their star forward in an attempt to bolster their forward line.

The Liverpool ECHO reported that talks were initiated with Monaco earlier in the transfer window as they scoured the winger market to establish the availability of the French international. Andoni Iraola's side face the need to replace Mohamed Salah and have drawn up a shortlist of targets which include Bradley Barcola, Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Said El Mala.

Paris Saint-Germain, who appear to have beaten Liverpool to RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande, have reportedly had three bids for Akliouche knocked back, with the most recent offer understood to be in the region of £34million.

According to PA Sports, Akliouche is open to a Premier League move and has been learning English in recent months. Despite this, PSG remain frontrunners to secure the winger's signature but are continuing to pursue their targets.

Liverpool have already signed Victor Munoz, who will join his new teammates upon his return following Spain's World Cup campaign, but head coach Andoni Iraola made it abundantly clear that signing a winger this summer is a necessity.

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The 44-year-old said: "No, I think it is difficult to say a number when the market is open. You have to be always open to new options to improve the squad.

"There are obvious situations where we need to sign players. A winger for example, we definitely need to sign a winger, but there are other situations where we will have to analyse what the market gives you, what is the cost, how we also see the players we have.

"We have some tricky positions where we have injured players, that we trust, but it is still not the ideal situation, so it will depend on a lot of things."

Akliouche's credentials match the calibre of player that Liverpool typically pursue in the transfer market, having played over 100 times.

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He has registered 23 goals and 28 assists across 139 matches for Monaco, while he featured in Didier Deschamps' squad at the World Cup, bringing his tally of caps for Les Bleus to 10.

Liverpool's desire to recruit a winger has been widely documented in the wake of Salah's departure.

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