​Through its chief executive, AS Monaco publicly addressed PSG’s interest in Maghnes Akliouche, reaffirming that a transfer agreement remains far from being finalized. The 24-year-old French international, long admired by Monaco’s Luis Campos and Luis Enrique, could still depart for PSG this summer. The Principality club is intent on trimming its wage bill and generating funds during the transfer window, while PSG aims to bolster its attacking options on the wings following Lee Kang-in’s anticipated move to Atlético Madrid and the possible exits of Ibrahim Mbaye and perhaps Bradley Barcola.
In addition to Yan Diomande, PSG has chosen to sign Akliouche this summer and reportedly reached an agreement with the player several weeks ago, according to French media. The deal is for five years and is dependent on PSG finalizing terms with AS Monaco. L’Equipe reports that Monaco has already rejected two PSG offers, the most recent being around €35 million, and is asking for €50 million. Le Parisien, citing sources close to the talks, notes a €15 to €20 million gap between the clubs, implying Monaco could seek as much as €55 million.
On Wednesday, Monaco—who finished seventh in Ligue 1 and will miss next season’s UEFA Champions League—introduced their new head coach, Filipe Luis, who succeeds Sébastien Pocognoli. Monaco’s CEO, Thiago Scuro, fielded questions from reporters during the presentation and sent a message to PSG: “Monaco is ready to keep Akliouche if there is no good agreement.”
Scuro elaborated on his remarks, applying them to other players as well: “It’s normal for clubs to be interested in profiles like Balogun, Akliouche, and Camara. If we can reach a fair agreement for AS Monaco, we can finalize it tomorrow. If there is no fair agreement for AS Monaco, then there will be no agreement. Monaco has a reputation for developing high-quality players in whom we have great faith. Now, for those involved in transfer discussions, we must find the right conditions for AS Monaco. There are daily discussions—that’s the purpose of this period. It’s summer; it’s the transfer window.”
The Monaco executive also reminded journalists that Akliouche had been expected to depart last summer: “We need to find financial solutions, not necessarily through Akliouche and Balogun. We must strike the right transfer balance during the summer—that’s the truth. But which players will leave? That will depend on what happens over the summer. It was the same last year. There was a lot of speculation that Akliouche would leave, but we found alternative solutions, and he stayed for another season. It was beneficial for him, as he joined the national team this season, and now he is at the World Cup.”
The core difference this year, compared to last, is PSG’s genuine determination to sign Akliouche, signaling a heightened focus on achieving a successful transfer.