Ibrahim Mbaye's two 100% stats show why Aston Villa must pull out all the stops to finalise deal
Ibrahim Mbaye is reportedly a target for Aston Villa this summer and his thrilling cameo for Senegal as they lost 3-1 to France on Tuesday showed why.
Mbaye, 18, halved the deficit in stoppage time with a shot too powerful to keep out for Mike Maignan, after Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola had scored for the two-time World Cup champions.
Mbappe would score just seconds after the restart to rule the teenager's goal irrelevant, but his impact has surely not gone unnoticed.
Mbaye is under contract at PSG until 2028 and has not yet shown a willingness to sign a new contract, with Villa among the clubs identifying an opportunity to sign him this summer.
The Senegal international made 30 appearances across all competitions for the senior team but was largely deployed from the bench by Luis Enrique, scoring three goals.
Unai Emery and his Europa League champions are keen to capitalise on qualification back to the Champions League this summer and bolster the squad.
Aston Villa eye £35m Ibrahim Mbaye move
Mbaye, capable of playing on both wings, joined PSG in 2018 from Versailles.
The teenager thrived at the youth level and made his Ligue 1 debut in 2024 at the age of just 16, scoring his first senior league goal in March last year.
Born in Trappes, France, Mbaye represented France at the youth level but debuted for Senegal in November, scoring four goals in 12 appearances since.
His impact against his country of birth on Tuesday was just a testament to the immense talent he is recognised as.
Picking up the ball, the 18-year-old ran at experienced international Theo Hernandez, going past him and sitting him down before smashing past Maignan.
Villa are reportedly hoping to sign Mbaye in a deal worth around £35m this summer, but his World Cup cameo has undoubtedly intensified the competition.
Villa's summer priorities clear
With Jadon Sancho having left the club following the completion of his loan move, Villa's focus appears to be on wide men this summer.
Leon Bailey returned to the club in January but has flattered to deceive, with the options past Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers largely unimpressive.
Mbaye would be the type of signing that changes the outlook of that attack completely.
The young forward is incredibly exciting, and if Villa were to pull off a deal, they would be completing a sensational coup.