Liverpool’s pursuit of Bradley Barcola has been one of the summer’s most closely watched transfer sagas.
Talks between the two clubs have progressed steadily over recent weeks, and DaveOCKOP.com revealed last week that Liverpool have already agreed a deal in principle with the Ligue 1 champions for the 23-year-old. The fee sits in the region of €128m.
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With Barcola tied to PSG for just two more years and showing no signs of extending his stay in the French capital, his departure this summer has increasingly looked like a matter of when rather than if.
PSG’s business elsewhere has only strengthened that perception.
The club moved to bring in Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche this week while also holding verbal discussions with Ajax over winger Mika Godts, moves that hint at cover already being lined up for Barcola’s exit.
Meanwhile, Barcola returned to training with his PSG teammates on Monday but has been battling illness in recent days and failed to complete every session in the buildup to the game.
But the French international was named in the squad that will face Aston Villa at the Stadion Salzburg on Wednesday evening.
Now Luis Enrique has responded to questions around Bradley Barcola ahead of their UEFA Super Cup clash:
The Spaniard kept his cards predictably close to his chest amid the Liverpool interest on his player:
“I don’t know and I don’t want to speak about any player individually because it is always dangerous when you asking such a thing – positive or negative. I stay focused on my team.”
Liverpool supporters keeping tabs on their prospective new signing will nonetheless be watching the Super Cup final closely, with PSG bidding for back-to-back Super Cup titles after their penalty shootout win over Tottenham last year.