Liverpool have received a boost in their pursuit of PSG winger Bradley Barcola, as PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi declined to rule out the French international leaving the club this summer. The European champions are understood to be holding out for around £145m for the 23-year-old.
Liverpool are aiming to negotiate a more agreeable fee, with a club record sum eclipsing the £125m spent on Alexander Isak last summer potentially forcing them to look elsewhere. The Anfield side have also been linked with a move for PSG's 18-year-old winger Ibrahim Mbaye as they look to strengthen their options out wide.
Barcola future uncertain after Super Cup
Following PSG's 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in Salzburg in the UEFA Super Cup final, a match in which Barcola remained an unused substitute, al-Khelaifi told beinSPORTS: "We're working calmly. We don't talk too much, we do. I can't say whether he will leave or not. Today, he is a PSG player. We'll see!"
PSG boss Luis Enrique was also non-committal ahead of the game in Austria. "I don't know and I don't want to speak about any player individually," he said when asked about Barcola's future at the Parc des Princes. "Because it's always dangerous when you are asking something positive or negative about a player. I stay focused on my team."
Barcola joined PSG from Lyon in 2023 for £38.5m. He has won three Ligue 1 titles, the French Cup twice, two Champions Leagues, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Mbaye deal cools
Liverpool have cooled their pursuit of Mbaye after discovering that a package deal to bring both him and Barcola to Anfield could reach £171m, it's claimed. Mbaye is able to feature on either flank, though consistent game time in Paris has proved elusive owing to Enrique's preference for Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue and Barcola. He was also an unused substitute in the Super Cup victory over Villa.
Fabrizio Romano has suggested Liverpool have now withdrawn from a potential deal following discussions with Mbaye's representative, Jorge Mendes. PSG are understood to have set a valuation for Mbaye between £34m and £42m, a figure the Reds reportedly consider excessive.
Liverpool are understood to be targeting two new wingers this window. Left-sided forward Cody Gakpo has been linked with a switch to Tottenham, which could have a considerable bearing on the remainder of Liverpool's transfer activity this summer.
