Liverpool are now said to be stepping up their efforts to land the elite attacker they are on the lookout for this summer. Andoni Iraola wants attacking football and bold wing-play at Anfield, as he has throughout much of his managerial career, and he needs the tools to do it.
Liverpool lost Mo Salah this summer, and while they have added to their wide ranks this summer, they need a truly elite and ready-to-go winger who they can plug and play going into the new season. But such attackers do not come cheap, and they are typically not easy to find or secure.
The Reds are prepared to pay big to land their man, but their main target could be about to test just how far they are willing to go in spending a huge sum of money.
Liverpool preparing to make Bradley Barcola offer
Bradley BarcolaReuters/Sam Navarro
Liverpool have made Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola their priority target, with the winger well on his way to being a superstar. But his path to being a superstar, he likely feels, is blocked by Khvitxa Kvaratskhèlia, who is likely the best in the world in his position currently.
Barcola has still played plenty, coming on for Kvaratskhèlia, while his versatility has also allowed him to play in other positions. But at 23 years of age, and having proven his ability at the World Cup, as well as during the club season, Barcola is ready to play a starring role, and he has reportedly rejected a new PSG contract in his bid to land one.
There have been reports that Liverpool are willing to pay as much as £100million to land Barcola this summer, but PSG are said to be asking for as much as £145million, with their value based on some of the other huge fees paid this summer, especially in the Premier League.
But reliable Liverpool source David Lynch is optimistic about a deal as far as the Reds are concerned. “I think people think everything’s a brief, but I think in this situation, I think it’s fair to say that was a brief from Liverpool,” Lynch explained on an Anfield Index podcast.
"Clearly, I think you can take that as a given now they are progressing towards making a bid for Barcola."
On the potential of the deal being advanced already, Lynch added: “He may even be in already really, they’ve been working on this for a long time.”
He continued: "There’ll probably be some rejected bids, you’ll probably hear some contradictory reporting… I would just say kind of be calm around this one. I think I said in the last pod that I was quite confident this one will happen."
Barcola wants to play a starring role, and Liverpool can offer it
psg barcola
Liverpool needing to replace Salah has come at a perfect time for Barcola in his search for a starring role at a top club this summer. That's something Lynch went on to highlight, adding: "So many of the ingredients are there to make this deal happen. The player wants it to happen as I understand it. Liverpool are clearly very highly sold on the player and want to get him. He’s got two years left on his contract. So PSG are really kind of taking a risk if they hold out for the higher end of their fee and they’ve got business themselves that they want to do.
“All the ingredients are there really for a compromise fee to be reached and for Liverpool to get it done with the player. So I still retain confidence.
"They’re (PSG) clearly preparing, aren’t they, for life without Barcola because he wants to go, as I understand it. He wants to be the main man somewhere. He wants to play more frequently. He doesn’t want to be left out when he gets to a Champions League final and be on the bench. Liverpool, by all accounts, are kind of offering that to him.”
Andoni Iraola looks on during a Bournemouth match Related
Liverpool Now Pushing to Complete £100m Deal to Sign 'Elite' Player
The Reds still need a top winger this summer