Liverpool have been in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over Bradley Barcola for a number of weeks, with the Ligue 1 side demanding £140m
SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - AUGUST 12: Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain looks on at the end of the UEFA Super Cup 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa at Stadion Salzburg on August 12, 2026 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
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Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock believes this summer's transfer market has reached "insane" levels, but admits he understands why Paris Saint-Germain are demanding £140m for Bradley Barcola.
The Reds have made PSG winger their No.1 priority this summer after Mohamed Salah departed at the end of the season but there is an impasse at present as the French club continue to ask for a fee that would break the club record fee paid to Newcastle United for Alexander Isak last year by £15m.
Barcola was left out of both games for PSG last week as they won the UEFA Super Cup by beating Aston Villa before losing 1-0 to Lens in the French version of the Community Shield and while Warnock accepts the prices are becoming increasingly harder to fathom, he can see why the Champions League holders are holding out for an extraordinary sum for Barcola, who is eager to move to Merseyside in a switch the ex-Red believes is "imminent".
"The market's insane," Warnock told PariuriX.com. "It's just off the charts. I understand PSG's stance when you look at Morgan Rogers going for £113 million.
"They can say: 'We've got a player who's just won the Champions League twice, he's a French international, he's a starter for France, why shouldn't we be getting that sort of a fee?' And also, you're paying for the potential as well. So I get that.
"£170 million, nowhere near. You don't touch it for that price. I think around £100-110 million, it's still ludicrous in terms of fees these days but in terms of the way the market has moved, it looks to be around that. Not being involved for the French Cup, it looks like it's imminent.
"However, I go back to the Isak situation and look at how has been training, what state he is going to be in and hopefully he knows that the move is going to happen and is preparing behind the scenes, ready to come into the football club. Because it doesn't sound like he's being isolated like Isak was at Newcastle."
Warnock added: "The one thing that Liverpool were desperately missing last year was a player that can take people on, that can change games on their own, singlehandedly. I think we know Barcola can do that.
"I think the big question around Barcola is can he score the goals that Liverpool are gonna need. "However, Iraola will be looking at both Isak and Florian Wirtz as well, thinking that they can bring goals.
"Victor Munoz may bring goals on that left hand side. I think he'll be hoping to get more goals from midfield as well.
"I think what he'll be hoping to do, very much like Arsenal, is trying to spread the load around and hope that it's not heavily reliant on one player.
"It's an interesting one. You say players can't be replaced but throughout the years you've gone from Dalglish to Rush, Suarez, Gerrard. You find new players and you find different ways.
"I think Liverpool fans will be calm in the fact that it's not going to be Mohamed Salah, it's going to be a different type of player. If he can assist and provide and change games, then he'll become a legend straightaway and the fans will get right behind him.
"I don't think there will be that pressure to be the next Mohamed Salah. Because as you say, it's very difficult to replicate that. I think if you can be sort of in and around, I know it sounds daft, half his numbers and you're providing a lot for other players and then Isak and Wirtz start scoring goals, or if Cody Gakpo stays - whoever it is. It's going to be a completely different player."
Andoni Iraola leads Liverpool in his debut campaign at Anfield
Andoni Iraola leads Liverpool in his debut campaign at Anfield((Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images))