Liverpool have held preliminary talks with Paris Saint-Germain over the possibility of signing Bradley Barcola
However, Sky Sports News understands there is a significant gap in valuation between the two clubs
The Champions League holders value the 23-year-old at £145m
PSG’s stance on the fee makes it a difficult deal to complete at this stage
- Transfer Centre LIVE! | Liverpool news & transfers🔴
- Liverpool fixtures & scores | <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/FreePLHighlightsFirst” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>FREE Liverpool highlights▶️
- Got Sky? <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/WatchPremarticles” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱
- Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream PL games with no contract📺
The Reds have also held preliminary talks with Barcola’s representatives
Barcola is not the only PSG winger Liverpool are interested in, with Andoni Iraola’s side having explored the conditions of a deal for Ibrahim Mbaye
The 18-year-old, who predominantly plays off the right, is believed to be interested in moving to Anfield
Their interest in the teenager is completely independent of any potential move for Barcola, who has been on Liverpool’s radar for a number of years
It is possible Liverpool could sign Mbaye and another more experienced option
Liverpool are planning to have five wingers at the end of the window, with an additional one being a younger player they want to develop
Liverpool move appeals to Barcola
Iraola sees his wide men as being key to his philosophy, which is why this area of the squad is the big focus in his first window on Merseyside, especially after the exit of Mohamed Salah
Barcola has two years left on his PSG contract and has indicated he will not be signing a new one amid frustrations at a lack of game time
The opportunity to join Liverpool is said to appeal to the France international
The key to getting any deal moving will be PSG’s willingness to reduce the price tag on the man they bought for around £40m from Lyon in the summer of 2023
The success of Iraola’s teams at Bournemouth and Rayo Vallecano centred around the pace, energy and work-rate from his wingers, so Barcola could be a key piece of the Spaniard’s new Liverpool jigsaw
The fact that Barcola has won nine major trophies in the last two years, including two Champions League titles, shows the calibre of player they are trying to bring to Anfield
Arsenal, who missed out on signing Vinicius Junior following his Real Madrid contract extension, also hold an interest in Barcola
Could Akliouche arrival allow Barcola to leave?
PSG signed winger Magnes Akliouche from Monaco in a £42.8m deal on Thursday
Liverpool had been interested in the France international, but it is understood that Akliouche, who grew up in the Paris area, wanted to move to PSG when they came in
The French champions are also in advanced talks with Ajax for winger Mika Godts
But PSG signing Godts and Akliouche does not increase the likelihood of Barcola leaving
In fact, the pair are not deemed as replacements for Barcola, whom PSG would ideally like to keep
PSG have already moved on three forwards this summer in Goncalo Ramos, Randal Kolo Muani and Kang-In Lee
