Liverpool have reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain worth £120m for Bradley Barcola, positioning the 23-year-old as the club's replacement for Mohamed Salah. The move would make Barcola the second-most expensive signing in Liverpool's history, behind only Alexander Isak's £125m transfer last summer.
With fewer than five days left before the transfer window closes, the deal is advancing favourably following the announcement of the agreement on Thursday morning. According to The Athletic, sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon led talks with their PSG counterparts.
Iraola outlines transfer approach
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, ahead of the Reds' clash with Nottingham Forest, Iraola refused to mention Barcola by name but confirmed the club's focus in that specific department.
"As you know, we are trying to sign in that position. We can't talk about players who, right now, aren't ours. But we are trying to improve and fill that position as we don't have the numbers. I hope we have good news soon but we are still not there," he said.
Iraola suggested that additional business was in the pipeline. "I'm sure if we can improve other areas, we will, but I don't know how the market is going to finish. I have to be patient as well as you. I cannot guarantee anything about how many we are going to sign or whatever. Experience tells us that if there's an opportunity, the last day you can do something," he added.
Forward line boost
"I don't know what's going to happen. I have to be patient. Then we get to September 2 – this is who we have and the options we have, then we can start thinking. For now we don't know. I have in my head what I want. We've been talking since the beginning with the club. They know what we want. It's about closing the deals," Iraola stated.
The prospective signing of Barcola would immediately bolster the Reds' forward line, which has been weakened following Hugo Ekitike's Achilles injury and Salah's exit at the conclusion of last season. Liverpool relied on a late penalty to draw 2-2 against Newcastle on the opening day.
