James Pearce: Liverpool would need to pay at least £42m to sign forward

James Pearce: Liverpool would need to pay at least £42m to sign forward Maghnes Akliouche to Liverpool: Sensible Alternative in Reds Winger Search Liverpool’s winger search looks active, but it also looks selective. That is the key takeaway from comments made by James Pearce on the Market Madness podcast, where he suggested Maghnes Akliouche remains in the frame this summer. The line that matters is simple: “They’ve certainly had some discussions about it.” That does not mean Liverpool are charging towards a deal. It means the player is under consideration, and that is exactly how competent recruitment should work. You assess options, compare price points, measure availability and decide where the value lies. Akliouche, currently with AS Monaco, appears to sit in that second tier of premium wide players. Not cheap, not speculative, but also not at the eye-watering level attached to Bradley Barcola. Pearce explained it clearly: “He would certainly be a cheaper alternative to Bradley Barcola if you couldn’t get the PSG man. I think you’d be looking at €50m-€60m [£42.7m-£51.3m] for Akliouche, so yeah, he’s certainly one that I say is a possibility, rather than a kind of definite they’ll be making a move for him.” Photo: IMAGO Liverpool transfer strategy around winger depth That pricing matters. If Barcola is valued beyond £125m, then Liverpool have a decision to make. Pay elite money for an elite target, or move quickly for a player a rung below who still offers quality, upside and tactical flexibility. There is no shame in choosing the second option if the club believe the overall squad benefits more from spreading the budget intelligently. Akliouche would not arrive with the same glamour or profile as Barcola. He is less established at the very top end of the game and has not built the same level of output in major competitions. That said, Liverpool are not shopping for headlines. They are meant to be shopping for solutions. Maghnes Akliouche price makes deal realistic This is where the conversation becomes serious. Liverpool need a winger, especially with the long-term planning around the forward line impossible to ignore. Even if internal options develop, even if younger talents push for minutes, serious clubs do not enter a demanding campaign understocked in wide areas. If Akliouche is available in the £42.7m to £51.3m bracket, that places him in a realistic band for a major move. It is substantial money, but not absurd money. More importantly, it is the type of fee that allows room for further business elsewhere. Photo: IMAGO Our View Akliouche may be a good player, but Liverpool do not need another transfer window where supporters are told to admire the structure of the plan while wondering whether the first-choice target was ever truly attainable. If Barcola is the elite option and Akliouche is the fallback, then say so plainly. The concern is that Liverpool too often end up hovering in the middle, interested, informed, cautious, and then suddenly out of time. That is how gaps in the squad stay open longer than they should. There is also the usual question of level. A decent Ligue 1 winger with promise is one thing. A player ready to carry real attacking responsibility at Liverpool is another. Replacing output, stretching games, handling pressure and delivering in Europe are not small asks. Plenty of talented players look attractive before they arrive. Fewer look convincing once the expectations land. So yes, Akliouche at around £50m has logic. It is easier to do, easier to justify and easier to present as smart business. But Liverpool supporters have heard enough about smart business. They want certainty, quality and conviction. If the club believe he is good enough, move. If he is merely the affordable alternative, that should worry people.