Liverpool have reached an agreement in principle to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola. The France international, 23, has long been linked with a switch to Anfield and it now appears the Reds are poised to complete a deal after Liverpool and PSG agreed on a £120million package on Wednesday night.
It is understood that the Reds are set to pay £100m guaranteed with a further £20m in achievable add-ons. Nothing has been formally signed yet, but Barcola has given his greenlight to a move to Liverpool and has been desperate for the transfer to materialise since the start of the summer transfer window.
Negotiations and Barcola's stance
According to The Athletic, sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon have handled negotiations, with crucial final details being thrashed out on Thursday morning.
Indeed, the ex-Lyon man has not featured for PSG in their opening three matches this season as he prepares to leave the Paris side. Barcola was an unused substitute in PSG's victory over Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup but was absent from the matchday squad for the Trophee Des Champions defeat to Lens and the Ligue 1 draw at Rennes.
Barcola's record and role at Liverpool
He scored 13 goals and provided seven assists in 49 appearances last season as PSG won the Champions League for the second straight year, beating Arsenal on penalties in the final.
Predominantly a left winger, Barcola can operate anywhere across the forward line and is expected to strengthen Liverpool's attacking arsenal, with Cody Gakpo's future in doubt and a deal for Ismaila Sarr gathering momentum.
Liverpool's pursuit of Ismaila Sarr
It emerged on Wednesday that Crystal Palace turned down a £50m offer from Liverpool for Sarr. The Reds remain on the hunt for a specialist right winger following Mohamed Salah's exit earlier this summer.
Sarr, 28, is Liverpool's primary target for that role and the Reds are anticipated to lodge a fresh bid before the September 1 deadline, though Palace have made it abundantly clear he is NOT for sale.
The Senegal international would bring pace and a genuine goal threat to Andoni Iraola's squad, having found the net 21 times in 45 appearances for Palace across all competitions last season.
Liverpool's pursuit of Sarr comes after the Reds abandoned their interest in Brighton's Yankuba Minteh. The Seagulls had placed an £80m price tag on Minteh, a figure Iraola's side were unwilling to meet.
