Liverpool are close to completing the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain, with the winger expected to arrive in the city today to finalise the transfer. The two clubs agreed a guaranteed fee of £100m with around £20m in add-ons on Thursday, a deal that would make the 23-year-old the club's second-most expensive player ever, behind the £125m paid for Alexander Isak last summer.
L'Equipe reported on Friday that Barcola is due at Kirkby to settle the final details, undergo his medical and sign a contract. The move ends a long pursuit that saw Liverpool miss out on top target Yan Diomande earlier in the summer, but PSG eventually dropped their £145m asking price to a figure the Reds were willing to pay.
Mbaye set for Aston Villa move
Meanwhile, 18-year-old PSG winger Ibrahim Mbaye is now set to join Aston Villa after being linked with Liverpool earlier in the window. The Reds made an enquiry but balked at the Parisian club's asking price, which RMC Sport reported as high as €70m, with Liverpool only willing to commit around €50m.
David Ornstein of The Athletic announced that Villa had reached "an agreement in principle" for Mbaye for €55m. Liverpool have since made late approaches for Brighton's Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr, with £50m and £60m bids for the former rejected and a £50m proposal for the latter turned down.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has admitted he is trying to convince Minteh to stay, saying: "Can I control everything? No, I can't control everything. Let's see, let's see [if we can keep him]. From my perspective, Minteh, he's a Brighton player, he needs to commit to this club."
Camara offered to Liverpool
Journalist Ben Jacobs revealed on X that Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara has been "offered to Chelsea and Liverpool as a late window opportunity". Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro told Canal Plus: "It is possible that he stays and possible that he leaves," citing "financial decisions" as a factor.
Onze Mondial reported that Monaco are "theoretically asking for between €50 and €60 million but, in practice, the deal could be settled for a somewhat lower amount." Sky Sports have reported that Camara "is high on Chelsea's list of midfield targets if Enzo Fernandez leaves", with Xabi Alonso said to have made him a priority.
Gakpo exit increasingly likely
The arrival of Barcola could have knock-on effects for Cody Gakpo, who has interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Man City. Fabrizio Romano claimed on Thursday that if Gakpo goes, Liverpool will add one more winger, otherwise they can stay with the current squad.
Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi said: "I think we can do one player more in one specific position. Yesterday we went to dinner with the owners, Johan [Lange, sporting director] and Vinai [Venkatesham, chief executive] and we spoke about this. All of us are on the same page and a very good connection."
Despite Gakpo's strong performance against Newcastle, it looks increasingly likely he will follow Curtis Jones in leaving the club. Liverpool supporters will hope the Reds get both of their new wingers in before that happens, but with the deadline approaching, time is tight.
