Liverpool don begin preliminary talks with Paris Saint-Germain about signing Bradley Barcola, but di deal no easy as PSG dey demand £145m for di 23-year-old winger. Sky Sports News understand say there be significant gap between wetin di two clubs dey value am.
Di Champions League holders don set dia price, but Liverpool dey hope to meet for middle with around £100m. However, PSG no dey ready to drop dia valuation, and dis make am difficult to complete at dis stage. Di Reds also don hold talks with Barcola representatives, as di France international dey interested in moving to Anfield.
Barcola get two years left for im contract, and e don indicate say e no go sign new one. Frustration dey im mind because of lack of game time. Di opportunity to join Liverpool dey appeal to am, and na why e dey push for di move.
But Liverpool no stop for Barcola alone. Dem also dey investigate condition to sign Ibrahim Mbaye, di 18-year-old PSG winger wey dey play off di right. Mbaye dey interested for Anfield move, and dia interest for am no relate to Barcola at all. E dey possible say Liverpool go sign both Mbaye and one more experienced option as dem dey plan to get five wingers before window close.
Di focus on wingers na because Andoni Iraola, di new Liverpool boss, see im wide men as key to im philosophy. After Mohamed Salah exit, di club need to strengthen for dat area well well. Iraola don prove im style for Bournemouth and Rayo Vallecano, where pace, energy, and work-rate from wingers be central.
Barcola don win nine major trophies in last two years, including two Champions League titles. Dis show di calibre of player wey Liverpool dey try to bring. But di price still be problem. Michael Owen, former Liverpool striker, advise say dem should walk away if PSG still dey demand £145m. E call am extortionate and say e be eye-watering amount.
Owen also talk say Liverpool need two wingers, and e dey available market for top-class ones. E mention say e go prefer Jarrod Bowen before, but dat no look possible now. So di pressure dey on Liverpool to invest heavy for di position.
Arsenal still dey monitor Barcola too, as dem miss out on Vinicius Junior. But PSG don sign Magnes Akliouche from Monaco and dey near to sign Mika Godts from Ajax. Dem no see those signings as replacements for Barcola, and PSG go still like to keep am.
Di fact be say PSG don already move three forwards dis summer – Goncalo Ramos, Randal Kolo Muani, and Kang-In Lee. So dem no need to sell Barcola unless di offer too sweet. All eyes now dey on whether PSG go reduce dia price or Liverpool go pay wetin dem dey ask.
