Liverpool have cooled their interest in Paris Saint-Germain duo Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye after learning a double deal would cost around £171m, while a tribunal will determine compensation for teenager Vincent Joseph after he joined Arsenal.
Barcola future uncertain
PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi refused to rule out Barcola leaving the club this summer. Following PSG's 2-1 win over Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg, where Barcola was 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!"
Manager Luis Enrique was equally evasive before the match: "I don't know and I don't want to speak about any player individually. Because it's always dangerous when you are asking something positive or negative about a player. I stay focused on my team."
Barcola, 23, joined PSG from Lyon in 2023 for £38.5m. The £145m-rated winger has won the Champions League twice, three Ligue 1 titles, two French Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup at Parc des Princes.
Mbaye pursuit dropped
Liverpool have dampened their pursuit of Mbaye after discovering the double swoop would require approximately £171m, reports the Mirror. The 18-year-old, who can play on both flanks, has found opportunities limited in Paris given Enrique's preference for Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue and Barcola.
Mbaye, who shone for Senegal at the World Cup, was also an unused substitute in the Super Cup win. Fabrizio Romano has suggested Liverpool have withdrawn from a prospective agreement following talks with his representative, Jorge Mendes. PSG value Mbaye at £34m to £42m, a figure the Reds consider excessive.
Liverpool are thought to be targeting two fresh wingers this window. Cody Gakpo has been linked with a move to Tottenham, which could influence their remaining transfer activity.
Arsenal tribunal over Joseph
Arsenal and Liverpool will face a tribunal after failing to agree compensation for young striker Vincent Joseph, reports the Daily Mail. The 16-year-old England youth international left Liverpool last month and agreed to join the Gunners, turning down a scholarship deal from the Reds.
His schoolboy registration expired, and Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were all keen. The reigning Premier League champions won the race and must now pay a fee, as required when a youngster switches clubs before signing a professional contract.
The Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) will determine the amount, considering the negotiations, the terms offered to Joseph, and his Liverpool career. He has scored eight goals in nine appearances for England under-16s.
