After being snubbed by Yan Diomande, PSG <\/a>ace Barcola is now top of their wishlist. However, the European champions are reluctant to sell and are thought to be demanding a fee of around \u00a3145 million ($193 million)<\/a>, likely dissuading Liverpool<\/a> from making him the third-most expensive transfer of all time. <\/p>\n At that price point, Barcola appears off the table, meaning the Reds will need to assess alternatives. Their preference will be for a player with a much lower valuation, especially considering there are other areas of the roster that desperately need reinforcing as well this summer. <\/p>\n Here are five more cost-effective additions than Barcola. <\/p>\n Maghnes Akliouche Maghnes Akliouche has been linked with Anfield. | IMAGO \/ PsnewZ<\/p>\n Liverpool have already been mooted with interest in Maghnes Akliouche<\/a>. The Monaco winger, who is also on PSG\u2019s radar, has enjoyed an impressive ascent in his native France, consistently eye-catching performances earning him his spot with Les Bleus at this summer\u2019s World Cup. <\/p>\n At 24 years old and with three full senior seasons under his belt, Akliouche appears the perfect profile for the Reds. Consider that he\u2019s a natural right winger with a wondrous left foot\u2014making him an ideal replacement for Mohamed Salah\u2014and he becomes a very exciting target indeed. <\/p>\n Technical quality is certainly no barrier to success for the 10-cap France international, whose dancing feet, impeccable close control and stellar passing range make him an undeniable threat. The last two campaigns have yielded 14 goals and 22 assists across all competitions and while they\u2019re not Salah numbers\u2014few can ever match the Egyptian\u2019s output\u2014they offer a window into his creative talents. <\/p>\n Akliouche would reportedly cost Liverpool just under \u00a343 million ($57.2 million), making him considerably cheaper than Barcola and many other targets on the market. <\/p>\n An awe-inspiring signing? No. <\/p>\n An astute signing? Undoubtedly. <\/p>\n Rafael Le\u00e3o Rafael Le\u00e3o is seeking a new chapter. | Andrea Staccioli\/Insidefoto\/LightRocket\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Rafael Le\u00e3o boasts the star quality that Akliouche lacks, but that doesn\u2019t necessarily make him a better addition. The Portugal star is three years older and a right-footed left winger, of which Liverpool already have several in their squad. However, he would be an opportunistic signing capable of elevating a fairly unspectacular forward line. <\/p>\n Le\u00e3o has informed Milan of his desire to depart San Siro after seven seasons, during which time he only failed to register 13 goal involvements or more in a campaign on one occasion (his debut term in 2019\u201320). Across four of the past five seasons, he\u2019s hit double-digits for both goals and assists. <\/p>\n Explosive speed, terrific dribbling and an eye for goal are undoubtedly traits Le\u00e3o possesses, although whether they would be as prevalent in the Premier League<\/a> is unclear. The forward is very capable of blowing hot and cold, something Liverpool cannot afford in Iraola\u2019s first term. <\/p>\n The 49-cap Portugal international would likely cost around the same as Akliouche, although his wages would be considerably higher. A tempting price, but a risky gamble nonetheless. <\/p>\n Rayan Rayan is a star in the making. | Jacques Feeney\/Offside\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Come January 2027, Rayan\u2019s price tag will be comparable with Barcola\u2019s. The Brazilian reportedly has an astonishing \u00a3130 million ($173 million) release clause which becomes active in the coming winter, but could Liverpool and his former manager Iraola negotiate for the Bournemouth<\/a> starlet this summer instead? Well, possibly. <\/p>\n Rayan, who featured heavily for Brazil at the World Cup, was terrific during his first half-season in English soccer and clearly has a strong working relationship with Iraola. While Bournemouth will be incredibly resistant to any approaches this summer as they seek to protect his value, their resolve could be put to the test\u2014especially with it being unlikely that any club will trigger his release clause in the near future. <\/p>\n Like Akliouche, the 19-year-old fits the bill with regards to being a left-footed right winger with enormous potential. Five years the Frenchman\u2019s junior, however, he arguably boasts an even greater ceiling, even if the trade off is less experience. <\/p>\n Rayan managed five goals and two assists in just 15 Bournemouth appearances last season. The talent is obvious, although whether it\u2019s too soon for a blockbuster transfer remains to be seen\u2014as does the fee the Cherries would be willing to accept for his signature. <\/p>\n Said El Mala Said El Mala is an exciting talent. | Mika Volkmann\/Getty Images<\/p>\n When Liverpool\u2019s interest in Diomande was first revealed, Said El Mala was named among the club\u2019s alternative targets should they fail to land the Ivorian. Luckily, Liverpool already know the 19-year-old\u2019s price tag, and it\u2019s much more appealing than those stated for Diomande and Barcola. <\/p>\n Brentford had already agreed a \u00a342.7 million ($56.9 million) deal for the emerging winger earlier in the year, only to see the player reject a move to west London. Therefore, Liverpool would simply need to match that sum to sign El Mala, with personal terms unlikely to be an issue. <\/p>\n The Germany international, who was unfortunate to miss out on the World Cup roster, is a left winger by trade, but is renowned for being incredibly two-footed. Standing tall for a wide man at six feet, he blends power with speed and dynamism, making him an enticing candidate to thrive in the Premier League. <\/p>\n While El Mala lacks significant experience, the teenager supplied 13 goals and four assists for K\u00f6ln in all competitions last season, despite not being a guaranteed starter.<\/p>\n Yankuba Minteh Yankuba Minteh has enormous potential. | Mike Hewitt\/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Monaco](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01jv9tvwecerjewkwds5.jpg\" "\\"Monaco")
<\/p>\n![\"Rafael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01kmqhw4ktk1zxr39pd9.jpg\" "\\"Rafael")
<\/p>\n![\"Rayan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01kyhstahpjpjmcg1g57.jpg\" "\\"Rayan")
<\/p>\n![\"Said](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01kh9k1w5cj792y6r6wk.jpg\" "\\"Said")
<\/p>\n![\"Yankuba](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01kx1ptkzaxtpzv9ya0w.jpg\" "\\"Yankuba")
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