Liverpool ready to walk away from Bradley Barcola deal and put pressure on PSG transfer
Liverpool are looking at alternatives to Bradley Barcola after their initial conversations with PSG over a transfer came to nothing.
The Reds are keen to add a winger to their side after Mohamed Salah’s departure earlier this summer, with new arrival Victor Munoz still unproven at the very elite level.
To that end, Liverpool have made a €100m (£85.6m) overture to PSG, only to be told they will need to pay nearly twice that much if they want to get their hands on the France international.
High Bar
However, Liverpool’s opening bid is still a lot of money even for a financial powerhouse like PSG, particularly for a player who has been in and out of the side over the years.
Barcola was part of the PSG side that won back-to-back Champions League titles this year and last, but did not start in either final with Luis Enrique instead plumping to start Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the 5-0 win over Inter in 2025 and the penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in May.
Now the Reds are looking to test Les Parisiens’ resolve by quietly letting it be known that they considering their options elsewhere.
The Guardian reported last week that Liverpool were intent on making Barcola their ‘statement signing of the summer’.
But subsequent reports have suggested that PSG have indicated they want a deal in the region of £140m-£145m if they are to allow Barcola to depart.
Caught Offside claim that Liverpool have numerous potential options in mind already, among which are Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Bournemouth’s Rayan is also touted as a possibility. The 20-year-old Brazil international moved to the Vitality Stadium to play under Iraola in January and made an immediate impression with five goals and two assists in his 15 Premier League appearances.
The hitch there is that Rayan cost Bournemouth £24.7m in January, and they now already believe he is worth several times that figure.
Rayan is said to have an £85m release clause in his contract, but it has been suggested that it does not activate until next year, handing Bournemouth an advantage in negotiations for the time being.
While it would obviously be sensible for Liverpool to look at other options if they feel a move for Barcola may not be possible, it is just as plausible that their apparent willingness to move on from the Frenchman could be a way to entice PSG to return to the table and find an acceptable compromise.
