Ibrahim Mbaye transfer can solve biggest problem Andoni Iraola faces at Liverpool

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Ibrahim Mbaye is under consideration at Liverpool as Andoni Iraola looks to bolster his forward options ahead of the 2026/27 season kicking off later this monthPSG winger Ibrahim Mbaye.(Image: Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)The necessity to add forward options at Liverpool has been obvious all summer. Indeed, it can be dated back to March 24, when Mohamed Salah confirmed that he would be leaving.It was a couple of weeks after that when Hugo Ekitike went down with the Achilles injury that will keep him out for another few months, but the lack of options — with Alexander Isak having missed the majority of his debut campaign — has long needed to be addressed.It is for that reason that Liverpool is so keen on the PSG forward Bradley Barcola.

And it is understood that his 18-year-old teammate, Ibrahim Mbaye, is another that the Reds are considering.In the case of Mbaye, nothing is advanced at this stage, but his profile — a right-winger, above all else — is what Liverpool needs the most.Minus Salah, that extra bit of pace and quality down the right flank is essential, with Federico Chiesa yet to prove himself as anything close to a regular starter.Last week, Jamie Carragher questioned why Liverpool would move for Barcola when it was more in need of someone who can naturally play off the right.Bradley Barcola (R) and Ibrahim Mbaye are both wanted by Liverpool(Image: Getty)Adding both Barcola and Mbaye, though, should that prove possible, would be a statement of intent, leaving Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha and Victor Munoz as the other wide options.Mbaye, like Barcola, is capable of playing on both sides of the attack, which is something that Iraola has spoken openly about admiring as a trait.Liverpool knows that it needs more options to service Isak and co up top, and the PSG pair would address that issue head-on.While the forward line is not the only department in which Liverpool is currently short, it remains to be seen if adding another defender proves possible in the next few weeks.While there are eight senior options on the Reds' books, Conor Bradley will be out for a while longer, Giovanni Leoni is not yet back from an ACL injury, and Kostas Tsimikas, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are all out of contract in 2027 as things stand.Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kitsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreFrom $100LFC.comSee the dealLiverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world.Signing someone who could help Jeremie Frimpong out at right-back for the time being, before becoming more of a center-back option, would be ideal.Really, Liverpool should be able to sign two forwards and a defender before the September 1 deadline.

In a world in which you have to pick one priority above the other, however, the attack is where numbers are needed the most.Right now, Liverpool does at least have one realistic option to play right-back when the new season kicks off. Though Ngumoha's role will grow, he can't be overly-relied upon, so that simply isn't the case sustainably on the right wing.A deal for Mbaye has been explored; in the coming days and weeks, that interest could develop further, with the player open to the switch.