Liverpool set to open talks with PSG over Barcola signing

Liverpool are preparing to open formal negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain over a potential deal for winger Bradley Barcola, with the Reds’ new manager Andoni Iraola prioritising a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah’s attacking profile. The 23-year-old France international has two years left on his PSG contract and has privately indicated he will not sign a new deal amid frustration at limited minutes in high-profile matches, creating a window for Liverpool to move quickly. Reports in France suggest Barcola has already agreed personal terms with Liverpool, but the stumbling block remains PSG’s valuation, which has been reported as high as £140m.

Why Barcola fits Liverpool’s blueprint under Iraola

Since joining Bournemouth in 2024, Iraola has built his teams around wingers who combine pace, pressing intensity and directness—traits that Barcola has consistently demonstrated in Ligue 1 and the Champions League. The Frenchman’s Champions League-winning campaigns with PSG, including two consecutive titles, underscore his ability to perform in elite environments, even if his role in the 2025 and 2026 finals was limited to substitute appearances. Sky Sports’ Adam Bate notes that Barcola’s profile aligns with the profile of players who thrived in Iraola’s systems at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth, where winger output was central to attacking transitions.

PSG’s stance on valuation remains the primary obstacle. While Liverpool are prepared to table an opening offer, PSG initially placed a £145m price tag on the player, a figure that has since been revised down to around £128.5m in some reports. The discrepancy highlights the broader tension in this summer’s transfer market, where top-level attacking talent is commanding record fees. For Liverpool, securing Barcola would represent a strategic bet on a player with proven trophy-winning pedigree but whose current club status suggests he is available for the right price.

Arsenal lurk as alternative suitors

Liverpool’s pursuit is not operating in isolation. Arsenal have also been linked with Barcola, though their interest has been overshadowed by Vinícius Júnior’s decision to remain at Real Madrid. The Gunners’ pursuit of the Brazilian winger, which included offers for a new contract at the Bernabéu, collapsed when Vinícius opted to stay, freeing up resources for other targets. With Bruno Guimarães’ future still unsettled amid Newcastle’s denials of advanced talks, Arsenal’s focus could now shift to Barcola as a premium alternative.

The competition adds urgency to Liverpool’s approach. PSG’s willingness to entertain offers may hinge on their ability to reinvest funds, particularly if they are forced to balance Barcola’s departure with other squad overhauls. For Iraola, the window to shape his squad is narrowing, with less than five weeks remaining in the transfer window. The Reds’ hierarchy, having already navigated the departures of key players, will need to move decisively to avoid losing Barcola to a rival.

The tactical fit and the price ceiling

Barcola’s profile—predominantly a left-sided attacker with a preference for cutting inside—offers Liverpool tactical flexibility. At PSG, his role has often been to stretch play and exploit half-spaces, a function that could complement Diogo Jota or Luis Díaz in Iraola’s preferred 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations. The challenge will be reconciling Liverpool’s valuation with PSG’s expectations. Reports suggest the French club’s latest figure remains above £140m, a figure that would rank among the highest fees Liverpool have ever paid for a player.

Iraola’s track record of developing wingers—evident in his work with Ryan Fraser at Bournemouth and Fran García at Rayo—could mitigate some of the risk, but the financial outlay is substantial. Liverpool’s recent commercial strategy, including the reported approach from a consortium led by Amit Bhatia for a minority stake, may provide additional flexibility, though any such deal would not resolve the immediate need to fund Barcola’s transfer.

The coming days will determine whether Liverpool can bridge the gap. If PSG’s valuation remains non-negotiable, the Reds may need to explore alternatives, such as Junior Kroupi or other high-potential wingers. But with Barcola’s desire to leave Paris clear and Iraola’s project at a formative stage, this is a transfer Liverpool cannot afford to mismanage. The next move belongs to PSG—and how far they are willing to bend to accommodate Liverpool’s ambitions.

For now, the framework for a deal exists. Whether it translates into a completed transfer will define Liverpool’s summer narrative. If successful, it would signal Iraola’s first major statement of intent at Anfield. If not, the search for Salah’s successor will continue, with the clock ticking loudly.