Liverpool's Pursuit of Bradley Barcola Intensifies

Liverpool’s pursuit of Bradley Barcola has moved into a new gear, with Fabrizio Romano claiming there is now a “verbal agreement” between the Paris Saint-Germain winger and the Anfield club.

The message from the player’s side is clear: Barcola wants Liverpool.

Liverpool’s Salah succession plan sharpens

Liverpool have been scrambling to reshape their attack after losing Mohamed Salah, and a failed move for Real Madrid’s new signing Yan Diomande pushed them back into the market for a marquee winger.

Ronald Araujo, Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet have already arrived this summer, but the squad still looks light out wide. That shortage has left Liverpool considering as many as two more winger signings, especially with Cody Gakpo attracting serious interest from Tottenham Hotspur and facing a possible exit.

Amid all that noise, one name has been ring-fenced at the top of the list: Bradley Barcola.

The Frenchman’s contract at PSG runs to 2028, but he is not interested in extending. The reason, as reported, is blunt – he wants to join Liverpool. That stance has emboldened the Premier League club, who are now, in Romano’s words, “ready to go strong” to get him out of Paris.

Agreement with Barcola, battle with PSG

Personal terms have never been the stumbling block. Romano has repeated for weeks that Liverpool and Barcola see eye to eye on that front, and his latest update on YouTube goes a step further: there is now a “verbal agreement” between the club and the player, and a “deal is on”.

The real fight lies with PSG.

The French champions have set an eye-watering price. Initial reports suggested they wanted up to £145m for Barcola alone. Romano then revealed that PSG were seeking a “crazy” combined proposal of around €200m for Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye. That figure forced Liverpool to step away from any move for Mbaye, but it has not killed their interest in Barcola.

Liverpool are prepared to push. PSG, so far, are prepared to squeeze.

Schira: Liverpool ‘getting closer’ at €125m

Italian journalist Nicolo Schira has gone even further than Romano in his assessment of the situation. Posting on X, he claimed Liverpool are “getting closer” to signing Barcola from PSG in a deal worth €125m (around £106m), with a contract running until 2032.

That would represent a significant drop from PSG’s initial stance and would still make Barcola one of the most expensive signings in Liverpool’s history.

The figures, though, need handling with care. PSG’s starting demand was far higher, and there is no indication yet that the French club have formally accepted anything close to €125m. For now, that number sits in the realm of negotiation rather than confirmation.

PSG stay calm – but the door is not closed

Inside Paris, the public message remains measured. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has not slammed the door on a sale, nor has he opened it fully.

“We’re working calmly,” Al-Khelaifi said. “We don’t talk too much. We get things done. All of our players are important. When they sign for PSG, they become important to us.”

It is the kind of line that keeps every option on the table. No promises, no guarantees, no outright refusal.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are not limiting their plans to one winger. Even as they chase Barcola, the club still intend to add two wide players before the window closes. Barcola is the headline act they want to build that plan around.

The verbal agreement is there. The player wants Anfield. Now it comes down to one question: how high are Liverpool prepared to climb to meet PSG’s price, and how long will Paris hold their nerve?