Liverpool agree £120m framework for Bradley Barcola, closing valuation gap with PSG
The Anfield club has fixed a fee for the France international, a move that would see their summer outlay exceed £663m while they continue to search for a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool have reached an agreement in principle with Paris Saint-Germain to sign forward Bradley Barcola for a package worth £120m. While the transfer is not yet finalised and final details remain under discussion, the fee is understood to be fixed, marking a significant breakthrough in negotiations that had stalled throughout the summer.
The agreed sum represents a reduction from PSG’s initial valuation of approximately £145m. If the deal is completed before the deadline, the 23-year-old France international would become Liverpool’s second most expensive signing in history, trailing only Alexander Isak, who joined from Newcastle for a club-record £125m last summer.
The acquisition would push Liverpool’s total expenditure since the end of the 2024/25 season to just over £663m. This figure includes the £116.5m paid for Florian Wirtz, as well as fees for Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, Victor Munoz, Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, and Jeremie Frimpong.
The potential arrival of Barcola is linked to broader squad restructuring, specifically facilitating the departure of Cody Gakpo, with both Tottenham and Manchester City reported to be interested in the Dutchman. However, internal debate persists regarding the tactical fit of the signing, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher arguing that Liverpool’s primary need remains a right-winger to replace Mohamed Salah, who left the club at the end of the previous season.
Carragher noted that while Barcola is a quality player, he predominantly operates off the left wing, a position where Liverpool already possess depth. Consequently, the club is also pursuing Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr as a second winger, following stalled negotiations with Brighton for Yankuba Minteh, for whom Brighton are holding out for £80m.
Uncertainty remains regarding the secondary target, as Palace currently consider Sarr not for sale despite his three remaining contract years. Sarr missed Palace’s opening match due to injury, a detail that contrasts with earlier reports suggesting he was refusing to train.
