The French winger appears keen on a move to Liverpool, with talks between the Reds and PSG set to take place.
Bradley Barcola is set for talks with Liverpool over the potential move to Anfield
Bradley Barcola is set for talks with Liverpool over the potential move to Anfield(Image: Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)
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Liverpool are set for talks with Paris Saint-Germain as they look to step up their interest in France international Bradley Barcola.
The Reds have held preliminary talks with the winger’s representatives and have been given encouraging signals from the player’s camp over a potential switch to Anfield. And it’s understood Liverpool are now ready to begin negotiations with PSG over Barcola, who is rated at well over £100m.
Barcola could be a club-record fee for the Reds, with the exciting frontman valued at around £140m. That astronomical fee would eclipse the £125m paid to Newcastle United for Alexander Isak last year.
Reports in France claimed Barcola has verbally agreed to join the Reds if a deal can be done and while suggestions that talks were underway with PSG were understood to be premature earlier this week, Liverpool are now preparing to hold discussions with the European champions.
Barcola has two years left on his contract at Parc des Princes and the French champions had been keen to tie the attacker to a new contract. But over a year on from those initial plans, Barcola remains on the same terms and is reluctant to enter into talks over extending.
This summer likely represents the final transfer window where PSG will be able to sell for the 23-year-old’s true value and while the Ligue 1 holders may be hesitant to listen to offers, Liverpool feel negotiations could prove productive.
Liverpool have already signed Spain international winger Victor Munoz this summer after his £34.5m release clause at Osasuna was triggered but Iraola has made no secret of the club's need for further reinforcements out wide.
Speaking last week at a press conference in Chicago, Iraola said: "You have to be always open to new options to improve the squad. There are obvious situations where we need to sign players."A winger for example, we definitely need to sign a winger, but there are other situations where we will have to analyse what the market gives you, what is the cost, how we also see the players we have."