Liverpool Targets Bradley Barcola with Verbal Agreement
Liverpool’s pursuit of Bradley Barcola has moved up a gear, with Fabrizio Romano claiming the club now have a “verbal agreement” with the Paris Saint-Germain winger over a move to Anfield.
The player is on board. Now the fight is with PSG.
Barcola pushes for Liverpool move
Liverpool turned to Barcola after missing out on Yan Diomande, who has joined Real Madrid, as they search for a successor to Mohamed Salah on the right flank.
Despite an already busy summer – with Ronald Araujo, Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet arriving – the squad still looks light in wide areas. That shortage is stark enough that Liverpool are open to bringing in as many as two more wingers, especially with Cody Gakpo attracting serious interest from Tottenham Hotspur and potentially heading for the exit.
Barcola, though, is the headline target. The 21-year-old does not want to extend his PSG contract beyond 2028 because he wants to join Liverpool, a stance Romano has repeatedly underlined. In his latest YouTube update, he states there is now a “verbal agreement” on personal terms between the player and the club.
Barcola “wants to go” to Liverpool, Romano says, and the Premier League side are “ready to go strong” to get the deal over the line. As he puts it, a “deal is on” – at least from Liverpool’s and the player’s side.
PSG hold out for huge fee
The real problem sits in Paris.
PSG’s valuation is eye-watering. Reports in England and France have suggested the French champions want as much as £145m for Barcola alone. Romano went even further on Thursday, reporting that PSG are demanding a “crazy” proposal of around €200m for a double deal involving Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye.
That figure has already had consequences. Liverpool have effectively walked away from Mbaye, unwilling to entertain that kind of package.
Barcola, though, remains firmly on the agenda. Liverpool are comfortable with the personal terms. The stand-off is purely over price.
Schira: Liverpool ‘getting closer’
Italian journalist Nicolo Schira has pushed the story on again, claiming Liverpool are “getting closer” to an agreement with PSG at €125m (around £106m) for Barcola.
On X, Schira wrote: “Excl. – Bradley #Barcola is getting closer to #Liverpool from #PSG for 125M. Contract until 2032.”
That would represent a significant climbdown from PSG’s initial stance. At this stage, though, that figure needs treating with caution. It is difficult to see PSG simply accepting €125m after floating a much higher number earlier in the window, and there has been no confirmation from the French club.
What is clear is that PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is leaving the door ajar without giving anything away.
“We’re working calmly,” Al-Khelaifi said when asked about potential exits this summer. “We don’t talk too much. We get things done. All of our players are important. When they sign for PSG, they become important to us.”
No promises. No denials. Just enough ambiguity to keep Liverpool interested and the market guessing.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are pressing on. A verbal agreement with Barcola is in place, the need for wide reinforcements is obvious, and the clock on the window is ticking.
How far are they willing to go to land the man they see as Salah’s heir?
