Barcelona scouts impressed by Monaco’s €40m-rated star but club hesitant to make a move | OneFootball

AS Monaco winger Eliesse Ben Seghir may have set his heart on a move to Barcelona, but according to SPORT, the Catalan club has a different name on their radar. It is his teammate, Maghnes Akliouche, who is drawing more attention from Barça scouts.

While Barcelona’s interest in Akliouche is genuine, they are not currently considering a signing on the right wing because that position is already secured by the young talent Lamine Yamal.

Despite that, Barça are impressed by the 23-year-old’s abilities. He is left-footed and prefers to play on the right flank, where his control, creativity, and vision shine.

His dribbling in tight spaces and accurate passes in the final third make him stand out. He is also capable of scoring and has a powerful shot when needed.

Akliouche’s rise at Monaco and affection for Barça

Akliouche has become an important player for Monaco under coach Adi Hutter. This season alone, he has contributed seven goals and 11 assists in 41 matches across Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

Barcelona are keeping an eye on Maghnes Akliouche. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images for Qatar Airways )

That makes him Monaco’s top assist provider and one of their most reliable attacking options.

What makes him even more appealing to Barcelona is his affection for the club. In a past video that made the rounds online, Akliouche—wearing a Monaco tracksuit—admitted that La Liga is his favourite league because of its playing style.

He even said that, apart from Monaco, he would love to play for Barcelona someday. “In addition to Monaco, I would like to play for Barcelona,” he had said.

A known figure at Barcelona

Interestingly, Akliouche scored in Barça’s first loss of the season—a 2-1 defeat in the Champions League group stage. That performance only further proved his talent.

While a move to Barcelona won’t be easy given Yamal’s firm grip on the right wing, Akliouche’s development and love for the club make him one to watch.

If an opportunity arises, and the timing is right, he could be a future target for the Catalan giants.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on the date of publication.