Liverpool set to sign £120m Bradley Barcola as Premier League transfer dominoes fall
Liverpool are on the brink of a statement signing, having agreed a deal worth up to £120m for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, with more than £100m of that fee guaranteed.
The 21-year-old is now moving towards becoming the latest headline arrival at Anfield, a transfer that could trigger a chain reaction at the top end of the Premier League and beyond.
Barcola in, Gakpo out?
Barcola’s move has immediate consequences. His arrival is expected to open the door for Cody Gakpo to leave Liverpool, with Tottenham pushing to bring in the Netherlands international.
Spurs remain firmly interested and are watching Liverpool’s progress on Barcola closely. Gakpo’s future is effectively tied to the completion of the Frenchman’s switch; once Liverpool get Barcola through the door, Tottenham will be primed to move.
Chelsea turn to Ahanor
While Liverpool reshape their attack, Chelsea are again dipping into the market for youth.
The club are in talks to sign Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor, according to BBC Sport. The 18-year-old is viewed as one of the standout young defensive prospects in Serie A, and Chelsea want the deal done before the window shuts as they continue their aggressive recruitment of emerging talent.
Villa, Chelsea and a striker merry-go-round
Aston Villa are ready to spark their own transfer carousel.
Nicolas Jackson is set for a medical at Villa after Unai Emery’s side agreed a £65m fee with Chelsea for the striker, reports The Telegraph. Once that move is sealed, it is expected to clear the path for Ollie Watkins to join Al Hilal in a £51m deal.
Villa’s work does not stop there. They are battling Crystal Palace for Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez, with BBC Sport reporting that Palace are attempting to hijack the Midlands club’s move.
On top of that, Villa have asked about West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo, according to the Daily Mail, as they push to reinforce Emery’s back line before the deadline.
One more piece in the puzzle: Sky Sports report that Ipswich Town are close to an agreement with Villa over a loan for striker Tammy Abraham, adding another twist to Villa’s reshaping of their forward options.
City and Arsenal circle Ndiaye
At the other end of the country, two title contenders are eyeing the same target.
Manchester City and Arsenal are both monitoring Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye, TalkSport report, with the Senegal international understood to be valued at around £80m.
If Liverpool’s move for Barcola lights the fuse, the closing days of the window could turn into a full-scale shootout among the Premier League’s elite.
