Liverpool Take First Step Towards €50m Deal for Creative Force: Maghnes Akliouche Emerges as Mohamed Salah Successor

The summer transfer window is still months away, but Liverpool have already taken their first concrete step towards solving the most daunting puzzle of the post-Jurgen Klopp era. According to French outlet L’Equipe, the Reds have initiated preliminary checks on AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche, a 24-year-old right-sided forward who could be the long-term heir to Mohamed Salah’s throne. This is not just scouting; it’s the first real move in what promises to be a €50 million pursuit of a player who perfectly fits the profile of a modern creative force.

There is no sugarcoating the reality at Anfield. Salah, the club’s talisman and primary creative engine for nearly a decade, will leave at the end of the season. His departure, combined with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit to Real Madrid last summer, has left Liverpool’s right-hand side in a state of impossible rebuild. The numbers are brutal: Salah has been directly involved in over 40% of Liverpool’s goals since 2017. Replacing that output requires not just a goalscorer, but a player who can create, dribble, and unlock defenses with the same frequency. Akliouche, as L’Equipe reports, is now the primary candidate.

Why Liverpool Desperately Need a New Creative Spark on the Right

The numbers don’t lie. Liverpool’s attacking output has already shown signs of regression without a consistent creative presence on the right flank. With Salah gone, the Reds will lose their leading assist provider, their most frequent chance creator, and the player who draws the most defensive attention. The problem is compounded by the fact that Alexander-Arnold’s departure removed the other major source of right-sided invention—his diagonal passes and overlapping runs were the second pillar of Liverpool’s attack.

This double exit has created a vacuum that cannot be filled by simply promoting from within. Harvey Elliott is a talented midfielder, but he lacks the raw pace and directness of a winger. Dominik Szoboszlai operates centrally. The club needs a specialist—a player whose natural habitat is the right channel, who can beat a man, cut inside, and deliver a final ball. That is precisely where Maghnes Akliouche enters the conversation.

The Monaco star has been described by French football analysts as a “pocket creator,” a player who thrives in tight spaces and produces moments of magic. In Ligue 1 this season, Akliouche has averaged 2.3 key passes per 90 minutes, with a dribble success rate of 62%. For context, those numbers are comparable to what Salah produced in his early Liverpool years. The key difference? Akliouche is just entering his prime, while Salah is exiting his.

Maghnes Akliouche: The €50m Profile That Fits Liverpool’s System

Let’s break down exactly why Akliouche is the right fit. He is 24 years old—old enough to have experience in European competition (Champions League with Monaco), but young enough to develop under Arne Slot’s system. He is a left-footed right winger, which means he naturally cuts inside onto his stronger foot, a trait that has defined the most successful Liverpool wide players of the modern era.

Key attributes that make Akliouche a Salah-like prospect:

• Creativity under pressure: Akliouche ranks in the top 15% of Ligue 1 wingers for through balls and smart passes. He doesn’t just cross; he finds runners in the box with precision.
• Dual-threat scoring: He has scored 8 goals and provided 6 assists in all competitions this season. Unlike one-dimensional dribblers, he can finish with both feet and is dangerous from set-pieces.
• Age and development ceiling: At 24, Akliouche is at the exact age where Salah arrived at Liverpool (25). The club’s analytics department likely sees the same trajectory: a player who can move up a level with better coaching and elite teammates.
• Physical adaptability: Standing at 1.83m (6’0”), he has the strength to hold off Premier League defenders, but also the low center of gravity to shift direction quickly—a rare combination.

The €50 million price tag, reported by multiple sources, is significant but not prohibitive. Monaco are known sellers, and Liverpool have the financial muscle after a season of net spending restraint. The first step—the inquiry and data collection—suggests the club is serious. They are not just browsing; they are building a dossier.

Expert Analysis: Can Akliouche Survive the Step Up to Anfield?

Every scout’s report comes with a caveat: Ligue 1 is not the Premier League. The physicality, pace, and intensity are different. But here is the nuance that Liverpool’s recruitment team will have noted: Akliouche has already performed against top-tier opposition. In Monaco’s Champions League group stage matches against Arsenal and Inter Milan, he completed 7 dribbles and created 4 chances across two games. He did not look out of place.

His style is not a direct copy of Salah. Salah’s genius lies in his explosive acceleration and ability to finish from impossible angles. Akliouche is more of a craftsman. He uses feints, body swerves, and delayed passes to manipulate defenders. He is also a more willing presser off the ball—averaging 18 pressures per 90, which aligns perfectly with Arne Slot’s high-intensity demands. This is crucial. Liverpool cannot afford a passenger who only creates. They need a worker who creates.

The risk factor: Akliouche has had one truly elite season. Consistency over 38 Premier League games is a different beast. However, Liverpool’s track record with French imports (think of how they developed players like Ibrahima Konaté) suggests they are willing to bet on raw talent with the right mental profile. The club’s internal data will have flagged his progressive carries and final-third entries as elite. These metrics often translate better across leagues than simple goal tallies.

One thing is certain: if Liverpool do not act, others will. Paris Saint-Germain have been linked, and clubs from the Saudi Pro League are circling. The first step Liverpool have taken—the official look into the player—must now accelerate into a formal approach. The summer market for creative players is thin, and waiting could mean losing the target entirely.

Prediction: What a Liverpool Move for Akliouche Means for the Rebuild

If Liverpool secure Maghnes Akliouche for the reported €50 million fee, it will signal a shift in strategy. The club is moving away from the “superstar” model—where one player (Salah) carries the creative burden—towards a more distributed attack. Akliouche would not be asked to score 30 goals a season. He would be asked to provide 15 goals and 15 assists, working in tandem with Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo.

My prediction: Liverpool will open formal negotiations with Monaco by mid-April. The fee will likely be structured with €45 million guaranteed and €5 million in performance-based add-ons. Akliouche will sign a five-year contract, becoming the club’s second most expensive signing after Darwin Núñez. He will start the 2025/26 season as the first-choice right winger, with Ben Doak as his understudy.

Will he be a direct Salah replacement? No. But he does not need to be. Liverpool need a player who can restart the creative engine on the right, who can take the ball in tight spaces and make something happen. Akliouche is that player. The first step has been taken. Now comes the sprint to the finish line.

Conclusion: The Clock is Ticking on Liverpool’s Creative Crisis

Liverpool’s right-hand side has been the backbone of their success for over five years. With Salah and Alexander-Arnold both gone, the club faces a rebuild that could define the next decade. The first step towards a €50 million deal for Maghnes Akliouche is not just a transfer rumor—it is a statement of intent. The club has identified the profile, done the groundwork, and is now moving into the operational phase.

The French international is not a gamble; he is a calculated investment in creativity. He has the age, the skillset, and the mentality to thrive at Anfield. If Liverpool can close this deal, they will have taken the most critical step in restoring their attacking identity. The fans have waited for a spark. Akliouche might just be the fire.

Now, it is up to the board to turn that first step into a signature. The summer window is approaching, and the creative force Liverpool so desperately needs is waiting in Monaco. The question is: will they move fast enough?

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.