Liverpool have finally got their man. The Reds have reached a £120m deal in principle with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola, closing the gap on a valuation dispute that had rumbled on for most of the summer, with PSG previously holding out for closer to £145m.
The framework of the deal is understood to be in place, with £100m delivered up front and the additional £20m through performance related add-ons, though final details are still being tied up before it’s rubber-stamped. It ends a saga that has dragged deep into the closing days of the window, but Andoni Iraola will feel it’s a deal worth the wait.
Barcola arrives as a genuine statement signing. The 23-year-old came through Lyon’s academy before moving to PSG in 2023, and has since established himself as a regular for the French and European champions champions as well as earning 28 caps for France.
Barcola career statistics by position
|
Position |
Appearances |
Goals |
Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Left Winger |
113 |
32 |
32 |
|
Right Winger |
37 |
7 |
15 |
|
Centre-Forward |
22 |
9 |
2 |
|
Left Midfield |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Luis Enrique has repeatedly backed the winger’s ceiling, praising his direct running, one-on-one threat and end product, and those qualities will likely be seen in a red shirt for the first time next Friday, when Iraola’s men travel to Ipswich, with Saturday’s clash against Nottingham Forest coming too soon.
“He has many qualities, can do a lot of things, is very fast, and is very young. Today, he was at the right tempo and unstoppable!” – Luis Enrique
Barcola’s arrival is expected to spell the end of Cody Gakpo’s Anfield career. Both Tottenham and Manchester City are interested in the Dutchman, with Spurs reportedly the further advanced of the two and terms said to already be in place between player and club, pending Liverpool sanctioning a sale.
Getting the Barcola deal over the line is just step one in allowing the Dutchman to leave however, with Alex Crook telling TalkSPORT on Thursday afternoon talk of the Frenchman alone finalising Liverpool’s business would be premature.
“Liverpool would want another forward player in addition to Barcola to sanction that deal (Gakpo), that’s certainly one to keep an eye on between now and the end of the window.”
Liverpool’s first-choice option to be that second winger signing was Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh. Interest cooled after the Seagulls knocked back two bids, the latest worth £60m, and are holding out for closer to £80m. That’s pushed Liverpool towards Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr, though Palace have so far also rejected an approach and insist the 28-year-old isn’t for sale.
Ben Jacobs has since revealed to Football FanCast that Liverpool’s options run wider still, with PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye and Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo – also being chased by Newcastle – both under consideration at broadly similar price points.
|
Player |
Club |
Age |
Career games |
Career goals |
Career assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ismaila Sarr |
Crystal Palace |
28 |
370 |
95 |
59 |
|
Matias Fernandez-Pardo |
Lille |
21 |
138 |
26 |
13 |
|
Yankuba Minteh |
Brighton |
22 |
134 |
27 |
20 |
|
Ibrahim Mbaye |
PSG |
18 |
79 |
19 |
23 |
Whichever name Liverpool land on, the picture is now clear: Barcola is close to being confirmed, Gakpo’s Anfield exit is edging closer and the Reds are working hard to find the final piece of the puzzle before deadline day.