Liverpool move one step closer to sensational Bradley Barcola deal after agreement reached

Over the weekend the reports began to pour in that Bradley Barcola would be heading to Liverpool.

Finally it would appear the 2024/25 Premier League champions will sign the top winger they so badly require.

With Mohamed Salah leaving on a free transfer Andoni Iraola and Richard Hughes were left lacking sufficient quality in the wide areas.

Barcola deal edging closer

But with Barcola, 23, declining a new contract at Paris Saint-Germain - his current deal runs out in 2028 - it would appear the European champions have little choice but to do a deal.

The estimates on the cost of the transfer for the Anfield side vary between £100m and £130m. That’s quite a high price for a player who isn’t a guaranteed starter under Luis Enrique at PSG.

However the Merseysiders have little choice other than to seal a deal for the France FIFA World Cup star.

Agreement reached with Barcola

Yan Diomande is known to have been the first choice but he is off to Real Madrid after a quick deal was agreed. Richard Hughes therefore has had to move down his list of targets - alighting on the second choice Barcola.

The former Lyon man is reported to earn around €140k per week at Parc des Princes and can expect a bumper salary increase at Anfield should the deal go through.

Nicolo Schira - the transfer expert - is now reporting that a six-year contract has been agreed between Liverpool and Barcola’s entourage.

“Agreement in principle between PSG’s winger Bradley Barcola and Liverpool for a contract until 2032 with a top salary,” he writes on X.

Barcola could play on the left or the right

That means Liverpool will be expected to soon conclude negotiations with PSG and have Barcola onboarded as quickly as possible.

Where he fits in the team is another matter. Barcola likes playing off the left - although he is a capable performer on the right side of the attack.

We could see Rio Ngumoha move over to the right in order to accommodate the pace and trickery of Barcola on the left.

Otherwise the Frenchman could line up as a direct Salah replacement - although a different kind of player given his speed and right-footedness.

Either way we now appear to be heading for a satisfactory conclusion.