In recent days, Paris Saint-Germain have stepped up their pursuit of Maghnes Akliouche, who could be the replacement for Lee Kang-In as the South Korean star edges closer to a move to Atlético de Madrid. The Ligue 1 champions had already targeted the Monaco midfielder last summer, and now they appear ready to accelerate negotiations. PSG might even receive a pleasant surprise: AS Monaco are expected to demand a significantly lower transfer fee than they did a year ago.
This summer, PSG will continue their recruitment strategy focused on young French talent. With that in mind, the path to Maghnes Akliouche has resurfaced in recent hours. Already wanted last summer, the French international remains on PSG’s radar, and the club has decided to speed up its efforts as Lee Kang-In’s departure to Atlético de Madrid becomes increasingly likely.
AS Monaco to lower Akliouche’s price tag
Indeed, PSG have seriously revived this pursuit, and now everything could move very quickly, particularly due to the excellent relationship between the Parisian board and AS Monaco. Moreover, while Monaco were reluctant to let Maghnes Akliouche go last summer, they set the bar very high by demanding €70m for his transfer. That situation has shifted significantly: Monaco are now under pressure to sell and cannot maintain such high demands, especially with Akliouche’s contract expiring in 2028. The amount expected by Monaco has not been disclosed, but it will be far lower than the €70m sought a year ago.
Akliouche waiting for World Cup to end
However, even though this deal seems to be progressing rapidly between PSG and AS Monaco, Maghnes Akliouche recently stated his desire to wait until after the World Cup before discussing his future. “If the next step is a transfer this summer? Yes, but frankly, I remain fully focused on this World Cup. I know anything can happen, even during the competition. It’s a big showcase, but I am concentrating on the national team’s objectives. I don’t want to disrespect my club by talking about the transfer market now. There are other things to manage,” he said.
