FEATURE | Should PSG resist approaches for Liverpool target Ibrahim Mbaye?

FEATURE | Should PSG resist approaches for Liverpool target Ibrahim Mbaye? Paris Saint-Germain have spent the past few years building a sustainable squad around players who are capable of improving together. Senegal forward Ibrahim Mbaye is the latest youngster who has been grabbing headlines at PSG, despite the intense competition for first-team places. Liverpool, Bournemouth and Borussia Dortmund are amongst the clubs who monitored the teenager last season. A summer move to any of them may appeal to Mbaye. However, a strong argument can be made for suggesting that the 18-year-old’s development would be best served by remaining with PSG for the upcoming 2026/27 Ligue 1 season. Mbaye fits the model PSG have worked to create Mbaye joined the club’s academy in 2018 and was handed his senior debut by Luis Enrique in August 2024, before gradually establishing himself in the first-team squad. He made 24 Ligue 1 appearances last season, recording three goals and two assists. When considering that his game time was limited to 999 minutes, those statistics look more impressive. The presence of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele leaves little room for an emerging winger to impress, but Mbaye did just that. PSG have spent heavily building one of Europe’s strongest squads, but retaining academy players alongside expensive recruits is important if their sporting model is to succeed. While the club have been smart about selling players to balance the books this summer , selling Mbaye this summer would risk repeating an old PSG problem – developing talented footballers only for another club to benefit from their prime years.  Mbaye’s World Cup performances have changed the conversation Mbaye’s performances for Senegal at the 2026 World Cup garnered plenty of attention, particularly his goal against France in a 3-1 defeat. At 18 years and 143 days, he became the youngest African player to score at a World Cup and the fourth-youngest goalscorer in the tournament’s history. FIFA subsequently highlighted his speed, confidence in one-against-one situations and ability to escape tight spaces when discussing the tournament’s outstanding young players. Those qualities are particularly useful for PSG because manager Luis Enrique’s possession-heavy football requires wingers who can transform territorial dominance into penetration. Mbaye can operate from either flank, attack a defender directly and accelerate through spaces that have become compressed by an opposition low block. The World Cup also demonstrated that PSG should accelerate his development, because he has already shown that he can produce under the pressure of international football. PSG should not sell because the pathway is crowded Mbaye is under contract until June 2028, meaning PSG could command a substantial fee for a player who will not be a guaranteed starter this season. Mbaye may look at Dortmund or the Premier League and think that moving there would provide a quicker route towards becoming an established first-team player. However, PSG should address that problem by using him more often this season. Luis Enrique has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to rotate his attacking options. Mbaye needs meaningful appearances off the bench, occasional starts and a clear indication that strong performances will lead to greater responsibility at PSG. His value could rise far beyond anything PSG receive now A €30m-rated winger who has already scored at a World Cup before turning 19 can quickly increase in value if his club production starts matching his international reputation. PSG are under no real pressure to sell immediately because Mbaye is tied to the club until 2028. This gives them time to assess whether he can progress further with the club. Of the clubs linked with him, Dortmund and Bournemouth are the most sensible options. They are both adept at giving talented young players opportunities in their first team; there is, of course, a certain allure when it comes to Liverpool, however, and the lack of competition on the right of their attack, following Mohamed Salah’s exit, could provide a quick route to first-team opportunities, too. Burnt bridges? PSG may feel that the interest from elsewhere gives them the chance to make a massive profit on a player they have developed. Moreover, PSG’s mood might have soured over a public transfer saga, with French investigative journalist Romain Molina publishing an exposé criticising Mbaye’s family and entourage for having “lost touch with reality.” Molina released details and visual proof—including photos of meetings and negotiations—claiming Mbaye’s parents made unrealistic financial, image rights, and project-funding demands to agents, cycling through multiple agents in a year before making his way to Jorge Mendes. The reigning European champions are a wealthy club, yet the troubled financial landscape in Ligue 1 cannot be ignored. A potential €30m windfall is not to be sniffed at; more recent reports suggest that the fee for the academy product could be considerably higher, perhaps as much as €70m. However, they must consider whether that amount would adequately compensate them for losing a player who could eventually become worth considerably more over the next couple of years. With doubts over Bradley Barcola’s future at the Parc des Princes, keeping Mbaye may ultimately be PSG’s best option this summer. The Senegalese forward still has some weaknesses in his game to address and must turn flashes of quality into sustained club performances. Next season will be a key one for Mbaye’s overall development and staying with PSG looks to be the most sensible outcome for a player who could become a superstar. GFFN | Zach Lowy