Liverpool have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to bring the French international Bradley Barcola to Anfield for a fee that is set around £120 million. While the transaction has not yet been sealed and final terms are still being negotiated, sources say that a breakthrough has been achieved after weeks of back‑and‑forth between the two clubs. Throughout the summer, the two sides could not agree on a valuation.
PSG initially placed a price tag of roughly £145 million on the 23‑year‑old, a figure that Liverpool deemed too steep. Recent talks appear to have narrowed that gap, with the English club now prepared to meet a fixed £120 million price. The exact structure of the deal – payment schedule, add‑ons, and any performance‑related clauses – remains under discussion, but the headline amount is believed to be firmly established. If the transfer is completed, Barcola would become Liverpool’s second‑most expensive signing in the club’s modern era, trailing only the record‑breaking £125 million acquisition of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United last summer.
The addition would also push Liverpool’s cumulative spending since the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign to just over £663 million, a tally that already includes the £116.5 million outlay for Florian Wirtz and the signings of Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, Victor Munoz, Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni and Jeremie Frimpong. The timing of the deal could have further ramifications for the squad. Securing Barcola before the transfer deadline would likely free up resources to facilitate the departure of Dutch forward Cody Gakpo, who has attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
Liverpool are also reported to be hunting for a second winger, with Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr emerging as a primary target after negotiations with Brighton over Yankuba Minteh hit a snag. Brighton have reportedly held firm at a £80 million valuation for Minteh, turning down two Liverpool bids, the most recent of which was £60 million.
Liverpool’s head coach, Andoni Iraola, addressed the Barcola pursuit in a recent press briefing. He emphasized that the club is actively seeking reinforcement in the wide‑area positions, stating, "We are trying to sign in that position. We cannot talk about players that are, right now, not ours. It's evident we are trying to improve or to fill that position because we don’t have the numbers.
I hope we can have good news soon." Iraola’s comments underline the urgency Liverpool feel to bolster their attacking options, especially after the departure of Mohamed Salah at the end of the previous season. Meanwhile, Palace appear reluctant to part with Sarr at this stage. The 28‑year‑old winger has three years remaining on his contract and the club has publicly declared him not for sale. Recent reports suggested he missed Palace’s opening‑week defeat to Everton due to an injury, after rumors surfaced that he had been refusing to train.
The situation remains fluid, and Liverpool may need to explore alternative options if Palace’s stance does not change. An interesting twist to the Barcola saga involves a sell‑on clause tied to his previous move from Lyon to PSG in 2023. Lyon originally paid €45 million (approximately £38.6 million) for the winger, and the agreement included a provision that would grant Lyon a share of any future transfer fee.
Should the £120 million deal go through, Lyon stands to receive a substantial windfall, highlighting the financial intricacies that modern transfers often entail. The prospective transfer would also set a new benchmark for the French Ligue 1, as it would become the most expensive departure from the league to date. PSG would realize a sizeable profit on a player who has contributed to two Champions League triumphs in three seasons, underscoring the club’s strategy of developing talent and then capitalising on high‑value sales. Not everyone is convinced that Barcola is the ideal fit for Liverpool’s current needs.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher expressed his admiration for the player’s abilities but questioned the positional fit. Carragher noted, "He's a great player, there's no doubt about that – I'd love to get Barcola at Liverpool, but he's a left winger for me. Liverpool’s big thing that stands out like a sore thumb right now is replacing Mo Salah, a right winger. And I don’t think Liverpool have got anybody really in the squad who looks fully comfortable playing right wing." Carragher went on to suggest that while Barcola would add quality, the club’s priority should be securing a right‑winger to directly replace Salah’s output.
He added that if Liverpool were to sign Barcola and simultaneously bring in a right‑winger, the overall balance would improve, but as it stands the immediate need lies on the opposite flank. In summary, Liverpool are on the cusp of finalising a landmark £120 million deal for Bradley Barcola, a move that would make him the club’s second‑costliest signing and potentially reshape the squad’s attacking dynamics.
The negotiation remains in its final stages, with the exact terms yet to be disclosed. Should the transfer materialise, it will not only impact Liverpool’s spending record but also trigger a cascade of further moves, including the possible exit of Cody Gakpo and the continued pursuit of additional wingers to address the right‑side vacancy left by Salah. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether this ambitious acquisition becomes a reality.