Liverpool are closing in on a deal to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris St-Germain, with a fee that could rise as high as £120m. Sources have told BBC Sport that talks progressed significantly over the past 48 hours, with a full agreement now close for the France forward.
Fee Details
PSG had initially valued the 23-year-old at £145m, but Liverpool are set to agree a package worth a minimum of just over £100m, rising to £120m depending on individual and team success clauses. According to BBC Sport’s analysis, that would represent a record fee for a player leaving Ligue 1.
PSG signed Barcola from Lyon in 2023 for a reported £38.5m, meaning the Paris club stand to roughly triple their outlay if the add-ons are triggered — a return the source material describes as an “excellent outcome” for PSG, particularly given Barcola is entering the final two years of his contract and has shown no willingness to sign an extension.
Gakpo’s Future In Doubt
Barcola’s likely arrival at Anfield creates further uncertainty around Cody Gakpo’s future. Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have shown interest in the Netherlands international.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola was asked directly about Gakpo’s future before Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest and stopped short of offering assurances. “I cannot guarantee anything,” he said, while making clear he wanted to keep the 27-year-old in his squad.
Iraola praised Gakpo’s recent form, saying: “He has been very good since he came back from the World Cup and his holiday, with a very good attitude. I hope we can keep him at that level because I think he has been very influential in our games.”
Wider Attacking Rebuild
Barcola, right-footed but a natural on the left wing, has become a priority target as Liverpool look to reinforce an attack that has lost both Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah over the past two summers. He is also comfortable on the right or through the middle, and could provide cover for Alexander Isak while Hugo Ekitike continues his recovery from a serious Achilles injury.
The forward’s résumé at PSG is substantial: three Ligue 1 titles, two Champions Leagues, two French Cups, plus the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Intercontinental Cup. He also scored three goals for France at this summer’s World Cup.
Liverpool are still working on other areas of the forward line as well. The club have had offers of £50m and £60m for Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh rejected, and have also explored a move for Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr as they search for a right winger.
Iraola acknowledged the club’s need in that position without confirming any specific target. “I cannot talk about players that, right now, are not ours,” he said. “But it is evident that we are trying to improve or try to fill that position because we don’t have the numbers. I hope we can have good news soon but we are still not there.”
Why It Suits Both Clubs
According to BBC Sport’s reporting, PSG view the negotiations as progressing “extremely well.” The French champions have already moved to cover the departure by signing Maghnes Akliouche and Mika Godts, having often used Barcola behind Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the wide positions last season.
For Liverpool, the deal marks the end of a pursuit that began after target Yan Diomande chose Real Madrid instead. The club had held firm earlier in the summer against PSG’s £145m valuation before eventually finding a structure both sides could accept. If the move goes through, Barcola would add proven quality to a Liverpool front line already featuring last summer’s signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.
