Richard Hughes is told: Break your £125m transfer record to sign in-demand forward

Liverpool were frustrated in their chase for Yan Diomande.

The 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger was targeted for a summer deal by the outgoing Premier League champions.

Sporting director Richard Hughes slid an offer worth up to €100m across the Red Bull desk but it was immediately rejected. And instead of a second bid going in news came that there was little point in sending another attempt.

Diomande prefers PSG

Diomande had resolved to join Paris Saint-Germain - with the two-time European champions now in the driving seat for a deal for the Ivorian forward.

That leaves the Reds scrambling around for another option. With Mohamed Salah leaving the club due to his £400k per week contract being ripped up new coach Andoni Iraola has a desperate need for a world-class winger to come in.

The Merseysiders seem to have alighted on Bradley Barcola as the next best choice to Diomande with the likes of Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Said El Mala and Yankuba Minteh also mentioned.

Barcola surplus to requirements

Barcola, 23, has been with PSG since 2023 but could get pushed even further down the pecking order if Diomande comes in.

Under contract until 2028 the Parisians are keen to extend his deal but according to a new report in L’Equipe would do a deal if the price is right.

Unfortunately for Liverpool that valuation is climbing higher and higher.

Where once it seemed as though the France forward could be available for around €130m (£113.5m) it now looks as though PSG are looking for a sum of around €150m (£128m) before they conclude business.

PSG want around £128m for Barcola deal

PSG are serious about outgoings this summer - hoping to bank €300m overall in deals for Goncalo Ramos, Lee Kang-In and now Barcola.

“Officially, Barcola is not for sale,” the report reads.

“PSG even want to extend his contract, which currently runs until 2028. Unlike Ramos, who expressed his desire during the World Cup to join Milan, PSG have chosen to pause discussions while the former Lyon player is in the United States.

“If talks fail, however, a departure is not completely excluded. Paris have set the price at €150m. At that level, the market narrows considerably, with English clubs almost the only ones capable of matching it. Arsenal, but especially Liverpool, are among the interested parties.”

Barcola is a versatile option - capable of playing left or right but the utility of his transfer must be brought into question at that price. Liverpool broke their transfer record twice last summer in deals for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

Barcola coming in would easily top both - placing enormous pressure and scrutiny on the Les Bleus international as well as Richard Hughes - the sporting director responsible for the spending.