Manchester City have added PSG teenager Ibrahim Mbaye to their list of potential targets as the club prepares for a possible reshuffle on the flanks.
The 18-year-old Senegal international is expected to leave Paris this summer, with the European champions reportedly open to letting him go. According to Santi Aouna, City are among a cluster of clubs tracking the winger, with Tottenham, Aston Villa, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund also monitoring the situation.
Mbaye wants to move on, and competition for his signature is expected to be fierce.
It has seemed for some time that Savinho will leave City. There has not been any recent update on his prospective move to Tottenham, though Fabrizio Romano has reported that Spurs are keen on the Brazilian. City, however, remain undecided on whether to sell the winger. Perhaps they are waiting to find a replacement before sanctioning his departure.
Profile and potential
Mbaye operates primarily from the right but can play on either flank. He is described as an explosive dribbler with speed, acceleration and close control — qualities that make him a dynamic threat out wide. He also appears to have a better end product than Savinho, whose finishing and final delivery have been recurring frustrations.
The numbers do not tell the full story. Mbaye has scored four goals in 42 appearances for PSG and four in 15 international caps for Senegal. But there is an air of confidence about his finishing that Savinho has lacked.
Both players share a similar profile. The question is whether Mbaye represents an upgrade. He has served his apprenticeship at PSG and looks ready to take the next step. Whether that step comes at the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders depends on whether City decide to act on their interest.