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Liverpool’s Link with Maghnes Akliouche Hints at Future Beyond Salah

Liverpool are proving that standing still is not in their DNA. Despite securing the Premier League title under new boss Arne Slot in his debut season, the Reds are actively looking to build for the future — and the latest transfer rumour signals a thoughtful evolution rather than a short-term fix.

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are “serious contenders” to sign AS Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche. The 23-year-old Frenchman, a standout performer in Ligue 1 this season, is reportedly valued at €60-70 million, and Liverpool face competition from several Premier League rivals, including Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest.

“Akliouche could leave Monaco for a fee in the region of €60-70m,” Caught Offside reports.

This potential move signals that Liverpool are not merely future-proofing their squad, but laying out the blueprint for life after Mohamed Salah, even though the Egyptian has just signed a new contract extension until 2027.

Akliouche’s Profile Matches Slot’s Demands

Akliouche is a left-footed right winger, comfortable operating from the flank Salah has made his own. While comparisons with the Egyptian King are inevitable, Akliouche brings a different profile to the pitch. His contribution of five goals and ten assists in Ligue 1, along with two goals and two assists in the Champions League, speaks to a player more attuned to creative responsibility than being a pure finisher.

Photo: IMAGO

Importantly, Akliouche also excels in off-the-ball metrics. He ranks impressively for ball recoveries and possession won in the final third, an attribute that should resonate strongly with Arne Slot’s emphasis on high pressing and defensive work from attacking players.

“He ranks highly on FOTMOB among Ligue 1 players in his position for recoveries and possession won in the final third,” Caught Offside notes.

Salah’s Contract Does Not Halt Planning

Despite Salah’s age-defying form — 29 goals and 18 assists this season — the decision to scout right-sided wingers like Akliouche, Rayan Cherki, and Anis Hadj-Moussa shows Liverpool are thinking strategically. Salah’s deal, which now runs until he is nearly 35, doesn’t delay long-term succession planning, it accelerates it with clarity.

“Liverpool seem to be searching for a long-term option on the right wing,” the article observes.

Slot’s tactical nous means he won’t look for a like-for-like Salah replacement. Instead, it’s likely the manager is looking to create a more dynamic, multi-functional front line where the goal-scoring and creative load is spread.

Intense Competition Reflects Akliouche’s Rising Stock

Liverpool’s interest in Akliouche is unlikely to be straightforward. With a contract at Monaco running until 2028, the French club are under no pressure to sell. The emergence of rivals for his signature only adds complexity.

“The Reds are also joined by the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham,” the report states.

Should Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director, pull this deal off, it would represent not only a strong long-term acquisition but a statement of intent that Liverpool are prepared to outmanoeuvre their closest rivals in the transfer market.

Slot Building Beyond Klopp’s Inheritance

Arne Slot’s success this season owes much to the squad he inherited from Jurgen Klopp, but his stamp on the team is already becoming visible. Targeting a player like Akliouche — who fits the tactical and stylistic demands of modern Liverpool — is a sign that the Dutchman is shaping a new era with purpose and precision.

“Arne Slot re-organising his attack to perhaps lessen his dependency on Salah’s finishing and playmaking skills,” is a key takeaway from the article.

Akliouche might not be a Salah clone, but in this Liverpool system, that may be the point entirely.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool fan’s perspective, this link to Maghnes Akliouche feels both exciting and pragmatic. It’s clear that Arne Slot isn’t letting sentiment guide decisions. Salah has been phenomenal, and this past season was a reminder of just how elite he remains — but there’s no escaping the fact he’s entering the final years of his peak.

Akliouche seems like a shrewd target: not just another fast winger, but a technically gifted and tactically aware creator who thrives in pressing systems. That screams Slot’s influence. His pressing metrics suggest he won’t just wait on the touchline for the ball — he’ll hunt it down, recycle possession, and help the team dominate territory, which fits beautifully with the current blueprint.

It’s also encouraging to see Liverpool willing to splash out on a rising talent, especially when competition is stiff. If this is the sort of player Slot wants, then it shows FSG and Hughes are backing their man. And after winning the title in his first season, he’s certainly earned that trust.

Fans might be torn about seeing a future without Salah, but this move shows planning, not panic. Whether Akliouche becomes the successor or simply a complementary piece, the ambition is clear: keep evolving, stay hungry, and build a dynasty, not just a moment.