Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly holding firm on a £128million asking price for Bradley Barcola, according to L'Equipe, a reduction from the initial £145million valuation. Liverpool are preparing to revise their position and increase their bid to push the deal through, with the BBC reporting that the transfer is anticipated to be concluded before the window shuts.
Fee standoff
Liverpool would prefer to pay in the region of £103m for the winger, and Barcola is reportedly receptive to the move. However, the two clubs remain "very far apart" on valuation, according to L'Equipe.
Former Anfield favourite Michael Owen has cautioned against overspending. He told the ECHO, via Casino.org: "Barcola, he's obviously the big name on everybody's lips. It sounds like he might be available. It sounds like he's going to be expensive, though - but they're going to have to make some form of statement signing, of course. You know, it used to be Salah, and [Sadio] Mane and [Luis] Diaz."
"Obviously [Barcola has] played at the highest level, but, yeah, at some point you've got to say no, haven't you? If it gets to £145m, wow, that's eye-watering."
Torres agrees to PSG move
Barcelona star Ferran Torres has reportedly agreed to make the switch to PSG this summer, a development that could pave the way for Barcola to complete a move to Liverpool. The Spanish World Cup winner is said to have given the thumbs up to PSG boss Luis Enrique for a transfer, according to Spanish outlet Sport.
Torres has made little attempt to conceal his willingness to leave Barca in recent interviews. "In the world of football, you never know," Torres said when pressed about a potential exit from the Catalan club this summer.
PSG are now poised to table an offer for Torres, with ambitions to wrap up a deal before his return next week following the World Cup. Securing Torres would represent another piece of the jigsaw as PSG look to reshape their attack this summer.
PSG's attacking rebuild
Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche is said to be on the verge of signing, while the club are also working to secure a deal for Mika Godts, the Belgian forward from Ajax. Should both of those moves come to fruition, it could potentially pave the way for Barcola to make his long-anticipated move to the Reds, finally bringing the drawn-out transfer saga to a close.
