WATCH: Champions in trouble? Akliouche draws Monaco level on aggregate with PSG
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The attacker was linked with a move to Liverpool throughout the summer, after featuring 139 times in Ligue 1 for Monaco and netting 23 goals and registering 28 assists. Such form saw him earn a place in Thierry Henry’s silver-medal winning France side for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and win 10 caps for the senior French national team.”Signing for Paris Saint-Germain is an immense source of pride,” Akliouche told the PSG website. ”Having grown up in the Paris region, joining such a prestigious club means so much to me and my family.
”I would like to thank president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Luis Campos and Luis Enrique for the trust they have placed in me, as well as everyone who has supported me along the way.
”I can’t wait to wear this shirt, continue my development at this great club and give everything I have to represent Paris Saint-Germain in front of our supporters.”
So how good is Akliouche? And how much will Liverpool rue missing out on the 24-year-old?
”He brings PSG even more talent, creativity, skill and the ability to make line-breaking passes,” Eurosport France’s Julien Pereira noted. ”His weaknesses? I think he still lacks aggression and personality, particularly in big, high-intensity matches.
”But he has a lot of potential.
”If he can match this Paris team’s level of intensity and tactical discipline, he could become one of the very best players in his position.”
‘What a strike’ – Akliouche gives Monaco shock lead over 10-man Barca with ‘brilliant finish’
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While Pereira conceded that there remained a lot of ”room for improvement”, he highlighted PSG boss Luis Enrique’s knack of ”unlocking” the potential of young players.
While the France international will struggle to feature regularly in a side already boasting the attacking riches of Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele, Pereira added that Akliouche was right to choose PSG over Liverpool.
”He won’t start at PSG,” Pereira said. ”He’s coming in as a backup to Desire Doue.
”But last season, even the backups got plenty of playing time. That should be the case again this year.
”As things stand, the Premier League isn’t the right fit for him. A player like [Bradley] Barcola seems much better suited to Liverpool.”
Indeed, Barcola, another PSG attacker and France international, has been cited as a possible replacement for Mohamed Salah at Anfield.
The 23-year-old, who has featured in both of PSG’s UEFA Champions League final wins over the past two seasons and won three Ligue 1 titles and two French Cups, is expected to leave the Parc des Princes this summer in search of regular football.
Liverpool, however, would reportedly have to pay more than £100m to sign him.
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