Maghnes Akliouche has made Paris Saint Germain his preferred next club, according to reports, leaving Liverpool and Tottenham to chase a deal that now looks tilted towards Paris. Monaco still have to agree a sale, and that remains the part of the story that can change the whole summer.

Akliouche's preference

The latest reporting is straightforward enough. The Athletic say Akliouche has chosen PSG if he leaves Monaco this summer, while other outlets have framed the move as progressing rather than done. That is the important distinction, because the player’s preference is one thing and a completed transfer is another.

His current form gives PSG a clean pitch. Akliouche has averaged a 7.0 rating across his last five matches, and he has posted 2 goal contributions in that spell, including assists against Metz and Toulouse. Those are not numbers that suggest a player waiting for a restart. They point to someone already producing at a level PSG will trust.

Monaco still control the fee

Monaco are not in a weak position. The club value Akliouche at around €70 million and he is under contract until 2028, which gives them room to hold out rather than accept the first serious offer. TEAMtalk also reported PSG negotiations are progressing on a deal worth around £60 million, but the price picture is not settled.

There is also a wider market angle here. Liverpool told Leipzig they would pay about £86m for Yan Diomande, a package worth about €100m, after The Athletic reported that Diomande has chosen PSG as his next destination if he leaves RB Leipzig this summer. Diomande said after Ivory Coast's 2-0 win over Curacao that he is not thinking about his future after the World Cup. PSG are active in this market, and Akliouche looks like the player they would rather win than lose.

Monaco finished 1st in Ligue 1, PSG also finished 1st, Liverpool finished 5th in the Premier League and Tottenham finished 17th. Those league finishes do not decide a transfer, but they do explain why Paris can sell a cleaner sporting case than the two English clubs chasing him.

The deal still depends on Monaco and PSG finding the right number. Right now, though, Akliouche has already shown where he wants the next step to be.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →