Liverpool to launch colossal new Bradley Barcola bid with deal ‘very realistic’
Liverpool could eclipse Chelsea’s £117million signing of Morgan Rogers by landing Paris Saint-Germain ace Bradley Barcola in an even bigger deal, according to a journalist.
Liverpool broke their transfer record twice last summer, spending £116m on Florian Wirtz before paying Newcastle United £125m to make Alexander Isak their new striker. The Reds are once again in the market for a marquee attacking transfer, as Barcola is their No 1 winger target.
Liverpool have set their sights on Barcola, believing he could thrive on either flank at Anfield. They also want Yankuba Minteh, in order to transform the forward options available to new head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool began by offering PSG €100m (£86m) for Barcola, before increasing their bid to €115m (£98m).
But both of those proposals were rejected as PSG first held out for €170m (£145m) before lowering their demands to €146m (£125m).
In an interview with The Football Terrace, transfer reporter Ben Jacobs has revealed Liverpool will return with a new bid for Barcola, and it could be worth over £117m (€136.5m).
“I still think Liverpool will place a formal bid between now and the end of the window,” Jacobs said.
“Ultimately, if it’s more than Morgan Rogers, it’s more than Elliot Anderson [£116m], and it’s closer in money to the Yan Diomande deal, it stands a very realistic chance of getting done.”
Liverpool targeted Diomande earlier in the transfer window, only for him to prioritise talks with PSG before ultimately joining Real Madrid.
After missing out on Diomande, Liverpool turned their attention to Barcola.
Real Madrid agreed a deal worth up to €140m (£120m) for Diomande, giving Liverpool some indication of how much Barcola might cost.
Liverpool are understood to be willing to pay £120m as a maximum for Barcola, meaning the deal remains firmly on the cards.
Liverpool in for Barcola, Minteh
Liverpool have agreed personal terms with both Barcola and Minteh. They held talks for fellow PSG winger Ibrahim Mbaye too, but are now chasing Minteh instead.
Trusted French reporter Fabrice Hawkins said earlier this week: “Bradley Barcola wants to join Liverpool. PSG were informed earlier of his desire, and it was accepted.
“There’s no intention to keep Bradley Barcola. The sticking point has been the valuation, where they started at €170m.
“Liverpool have made different verbal offers. They’ve made offers since the verbal one, but there hasn’t been a written offer yet because, at this level, I think the next written offer will be the one that gets it done.
“We’ve understood that it would be somewhere between €130m and €150m, but in any case, it won’t be below €120m for Bradley Barcola. Everyone involved in this deal thinks there will be an agreement.”
Meanwhile, there has been an update on Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Cody Gakpo.
