Liverpool line up Monaco's Akliouche in ambitious bid to fill Salah's boots
Arne Slot is understood to have already met with Akliouche's representatives, according to reports from Spain and England, which pushes the interest beyond rumour and into the category of serious intent. The Monaco winger, 24, has had an impressive 2025-26 campaign in Ligue 1 — six goals and four assists in the league alone — and his ability to operate on either flank at pace has drawn comparisons to the profile Liverpool have been looking for since Salah announced he would leave at the end of the season.
Akliouche holds dual French and Algerian nationality. He is contracted to Monaco until June 2028, which gives the French club some negotiating power but also means Liverpool will need to commit before he enters his final year. Monaco's asking price sits at around €70 million. Liverpool are said to be prepared to negotiate rather than pay the full asking price, though the gap between the two positions may not be enormous.
A long list, one emerging preference
Liverpool have not been short of names in this window. Yan Diomande at RB Leipzig attracted attention earlier, as did Bayern Munich's Michael Olise — until Bayern made clear he was unavailable. Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao has also been discussed internally. What moves Akliouche up the list is a combination of his availability, his age and his form in big games: Monaco's Champions League campaign this season gave him exposure at the highest level, and he impressed against strong opposition.
His standing in French football has grown quickly. He was prominent in Monaco's wins over PSG in Ligue 1 this season, earning the kind of profile that travels beyond the league's usual media footprint. Slot is reported to have been tracking him closely since the autumn.
United and Spurs in the background
Liverpool are not alone. Manchester United have tracked Akliouche across much of the 2025-26 season and could offer Champions League football next year if results go in their favour. Tottenham Hotspur have been even longer-term admirers, with multiple failed approaches over recent windows, though their current league position makes them a harder sell to a player of his calibre.
Speed matters in these negotiations. Salah departs in June after agreeing to cancel the final year of his contract early, and Liverpool want the successor identified and signed before pre-season begins. Akliouche will not arrive as a ready-made replacement for a player who scored over 250 goals for the club. He will arrive as the future — pace, directness and a ceiling that Liverpool believe their coaching setup can raise. The €70m question is whether that projection justifies the fee right now.
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