Both Liverpool and Manchester United have sent scouts to watch Maghnes Akliouche. That's not a rumour at this point — it's confirmed scouting activity, and when two clubs of that size are paying close attention to the same 23-year-old at Monaco, you start to understand that something significant is probably coming.
Akliouche has been one of the most exciting players in Ligue 1 this season. Quick, technically sharp, able to play across the attacking line and create something from tight spaces — he's exactly the kind of player that Premier League clubs pay a premium for in the summer market. Monaco know it. They've priced him accordingly. But the interest is there and it's serious.
Why Liverpool want him
Arne Slot has been building a specific kind of attack at Liverpool — technically precise, press-resistant, capable of combining in tight areas but also threatening in behind. Akliouche fits that profile almost perfectly. He's comfortable in combination play, he runs the channels, and his output this season has been consistent in a way that suggests he's ready to step up.
Liverpool's wide forward depth will need attention this summer. They've been searching for someone who can genuinely rotate with or eventually replace their existing options. Akliouche at 23, with four or five years of peak development still ahead, makes sense as a long-term investment as much as an immediate solution.
Why Man Utd want him
Under Michael Carrick, United's system demands creativity and movement from wide areas. The midfield setup they've developed works best when the wingers can arrive late into space, combine quickly, and then recover defensively. Akliouche is that kind of player — he works hard without the ball and arrives with it at exactly the right moments.
United also have age profile in mind. After years of signing experienced players who arrived in the twilight of their best years, the club are explicitly targeting younger talent with resale value. Akliouche, at 23 and with a European profile established, ticks every box.
Monaco's position
They don't need to sell, which means they hold the cards. Monaco have been here before — developing a talent, watching the Premier League circle, and ultimately cashing in for a number that funds the next cycle. That's the model and it works.
The fee being discussed is in the 45-60 million euro range. For both Liverpool and United, that's manageable. The competition between them is the interesting part — and for Akliouche himself, having two clubs of that magnitude competing for you is the kind of situation that tends to resolve very favourably.
Watch this one closely through the summer. It's going to be big.
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