Image for How a European domino effect could hand Liverpool their ultimate Salah long-term successor
Image for How a European domino effect could hand Liverpool their ultimate Salah long-term successor
Liverpool are pushing to sign PSG winger Bradley Barcola to help rebuild their attack, but negotiations remain complicated.
The Reds are are ready and waiting to pull the trigger on what would be a record-breaking deal the moment they get the green light.
As the Reds actively build for the future and navigate the long-term process of replacing Mohamed Salah’s output, Barcola has emerged as the primary target to headline a new-look forward line. However, negotiating with the French champions has proven to be an absolute minefield.
Negotiations have hit a wall largely due to PSG’s astronomical valuation. The Parisian side have slapped an eye-watering €180m price tag on the French international a fee that would make him the second-most expensive player in football history.
It is a staggering sum for an attacker who isn’t even guaranteed a spot in Luis Enrique’s best XI. That very lack of regular starts is precisely why the winger is open to calling time on his tenure at the Parc des Princes.
Liverpool hope to offer him a pivotal, starring role under the lights at Anfield, though senior figures on Merseyside have no intention of meeting PSG’s full asking price. The feeling within the club is that the figure must come down, but for that to happen, PSG need to secure their own replacements first.
The Ferran Torres factor and the Paris domino effect
The key that unlocks Barcola’s exit lies in PSG’s search for fresh attacking options. The French champions are currently working on multiple fronts, holding interest in Ajax starlet Mika Godts while making strong moves for Barcelona’s Ferran Torres
Reports indicate that talks between Torres and PSG are accelerating rapidly, with dialogue between the player and club moving in a positive direction. While Tottenham have also cast admiring glances toward the Spaniard, Paris remain clear favourites to land his signature.
Addressing his future directly, Torres offered a cryptic response when speaking to NBC via Fabrizio Romano:
? Ferran Torres on his future: “Right now I have a contract with Barça… but, honestly, in football you never know what might happen”, told NBC. pic.twitter.com/bywdyAles7
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 3, 2026
“My future? I have a contract with Barcelona, but in football you never know. I’m waiting to make the right decision.”
When probed further on his ideal destination, the forward kept his cards close to his chest:
“I don’t know, I don’t know yet. Is there a dream club? Yes. Which one? I just want to be happy.”
Naturally, the prospect of an attacker named F. Torres gracing the Anfield turf again carries a heavy hit of nostalgia for Kopites. However, Liverpool are not in the frame for the Barca man and expect him to either remain in Catalonia or complete his move to Paris.
Instead, Liverpool are relying on PSG to seal that deal. Bringing in Torres or Godts would leave PSG facing squad bloat, drastically shifting their stance from holding Barcola to actively pushing him toward the exit door and handing Liverpool a massive boost.
The urgency to land a marquee forward comes against the backdrop of a fluid transfer window on Merseyside. While Victor Munoz has already signed on the dotted line from Osasuna, space has cleared across the frontline. Federico Chiesa has struggled to make the desired impact, Hugo Ekitike is sidelined after suffering a severe Achilles injury, and Cody Gakpo continues to attract interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
If the European heavyweights complete their incoming business without a late collapse, the path will finally clear for Liverpool to secure their key target.