Aston Villa thought they were close.
Talks had progressed.
Interest was genuine.
And then Ibrahim Mbaye’s camp delivered their verdict.
Villa Park is not where he’s going.
He wants bigger.
Liverpool and Manchester City offered PSG wonderkid Ibrahim Mbaye
According to TEAMtalk, Mbaye’s representatives have been sounding out both Liverpool and Manchester City after making it abundantly clear the teenager will not be joining Aston Villa this summer, with the player’s entourage convinced he is capable of competing at the very highest level and determined that his next club should reflect that belief.
The snub of Villa is significant on its own.
None of it was enough.
Mbaye’s family and representatives have set their sights higher, and have already put his name to Liverpool and Manchester City as a direct result.
The response from both clubs has been admiring but cautious.
Liverpool’s recruitment staff have tracked Mbaye’s development at PSG closely and are continuing to assess wide attacking options as Andoni Iraola’s side looks to address the gap left by Mohamed Salah’s departure.
Manchester City are also in the market for additional attacking reinforcement as Enzo Maresca continues reshaping a post-Guardiola squad.
But neither club currently views Mbaye as their leading priority.
Liverpool’s number one target remains Bradley Barcola, with the PSG winger still the most coveted option on Iraola’s list despite ongoing complications around the fee.
City have other names ahead of Mbaye on their own shortlist despite acknowledging his long-term ceiling.
The situation remains fluid.
His camp are not in a rush, they want the right sporting project, not simply the quickest exit from Paris.
But with two of the most powerful clubs in the Premier League now aware of his availability and his agents actively pushing the conversation, this story is only going in one direction.
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