Liverpool agrees £123M deal for PSG's Barcola

Liverpool has reached an agreement to acquire Paris St-Germain attacker Bradley Barcola for a fee that could reach £123 million.

Although PSG initially valued the French international at £145 million, the Merseyside club has negotiated a package consisting of an initial payment of £106 million, with an additional £17 million available in performance-related add-ons.

The 23-year-old player is anticipated to undergo a medical examination this coming weekend before finalizing a long-term contract at Anfield.

Barcola, a right-footed player who prefers to operate on the left flank, is set to join the squad, which will likely raise further questions about Cody Gakpo's future at Liverpool.

According to information from multiple sources speaking to BBC Sport, both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have expressed an interest in the Dutch forward.

Liverpool is also actively looking to sign a right-sided winger, having previously explored potential transfers for Yankuba Minteh from Brighton and Ismaila Sarr from Crystal Palace.

Barcola has emerged as a primary target for Liverpool as the club seeks to strengthen its attacking options following the departures of Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah over the last two summer transfer windows.

He transferred to PSG from Lyon in 2023 for a reported sum of £38.5 million and has since accumulated an impressive list of honours, including three Ligue 1 titles, two Champions League victories, two French Cups, the Uefa Super Cup, and the Fifa Intercontinental Cup.

The agreed transfer fee that Liverpool will pay includes a solidarity payment that PSG owes to Lyon, stemming from the deal that brought Barcola to the Parisian club three years ago.

Barcola, who netted three goals for France during this summer's World Cup, possesses the versatility to play on the right wing or through the centre, potentially providing cover for Alexander Isak while Hugo Ekitike recovers from a serious Achilles tendon injury.

Ahead of Saturday's match against Nottingham Forest, scheduled for 12:30 BST, Reds manager Andoni Iraola addressed inquiries about Gakpo's status, stating he could not offer any guarantees, but emphasized his desire for the 27-year-old to remain with the team.

Iraola commented that Gakpo had been performing very well since returning from the World Cup and his holiday, showing a very positive attitude, and expressed his hope that they could maintain the player at that level, believing he had been very impactful in their matches.

Barcola became Liverpool's top priority after Yan Diomande chose to join Real Madrid earlier in the transfer window. The Frenchman's move to Anfield, potentially valued at up to £123 million, would establish a new record fee for a player transferring out of Ligue 1.

Barcola is expected to bring significant talent and inject genuine quality into Liverpool's attacking line-up, which could become a formidable force if last summer's expensive signings, Isak and Florian Wirtz, manage to elevate their performances.

PSG could reasonably view this transaction as an excellent outcome, given they acquired Barcola for £38 million and stand to more than triple their investment if all add-ons are met, especially for a player entering the final two years of his contract who has shown no inclination to extend it.

Last season, Barcola often found himself behind Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in major matches, and PSG has further reinforced its options in those wide positions this summer by signing Maghnes Akliouche and Mika Godts.

Nonetheless, Liverpool will also be pleased with the agreement, having initially stood firm earlier in the summer regarding PSG's £145 million valuation, and ultimately securing one of Europe's most promising forwards.

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