Liverpool have been given a significant lift in their chase for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, as the Ligue 1 champions reportedly close in on a deal for Monaco attacker Maghnes Akliouche.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, negotiations between PSG and Monaco are at an advanced stage, with an agreement believed to be in the final stages. That could pave the way for Barcola to leave the Parc des Princes this summer.
Barcola stalls on new contract
Barcola, 23, is under contract with PSG until 2028 but has been reluctant to sign an extension. Reports suggest he is keen on a move, with Liverpool emerging as a leading destination after Mohamed Salah departed at the end of last season.
The Reds would likely need to pay around £145 million to secure the forward, which would set a new British transfer record, surpassing the £125 million paid for Alexander Isak a year earlier.
Iraola confirms winger search
New Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has publicly acknowledged the need for a winger in his squad. Speaking earlier this month, he said: "I think it’s difficult to say a number when the market is open, and you have to be always open to new options to improve the squad. There are obvious situations that we know where we need to sign players. A winger, for example. We definitely need to sign a winger. But there are other situations that we will have to analyse what the market gives you, what’s the cost, how we also see the players we have. We have some tricky positions where we have injured players that we trust but it is still not the ideal situation. So, it will depend on a lot of things."
