**Liverpool have kicked off talks with Paris Saint-Germain by sending a strong message to Paris Saint-Germain.**
Liverpool are all-in on Bradley Barcola to be their next start signing. It comes one year after twice breaking their transfer record to rebuild their forward line - first for Florian Wirtz and again for Alexander Isak.
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Those two signings were also Liverpool's first forays beyond the £100m barrier. The latter even broke the British transfer record.
And now Paris Saint-Germain want them to do it again. Reports indicate that PSG demand €180m for Barcola, or around £145m. They're using the £117m deal for Morgan Rogers as an example of how they've come to that figure, believing their player should be valued higher.
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Now, on ability alone that's probably correct. But PSG are ignoring one major element of a transfer fee here: importance to the club that he's at.
PSG don't actually _need_ Barcola and he doesn't take up a spot in their starting XI. They're also pushing through deals for other wingers, again reducing their need to hold onto such a player.
Barcola will have two years remaining on his contract, too. This is the last time they'll get anything like big money for him - and Liverpool feel that gives them strength.
Ben Jacobs reports in the [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com) newsletter that Liverpool plan on starting their bidding at around €100m. That's a strong message sent to PSG - one that says they completely disagree with their valuation here.
Jacobs points out that Barcola was valued at €85m just one year ago. He's now closer to the end of his deal and certainly hasn't shown anything that should have _doubled_ his valuation in just one year.
Liverpool also believe that the player wants to move to Anfield. Again, it creates a position of strength as nearly guarantees the Reds exclusive negotiation rights.
And so they'll tell PSG where _they_ want to start negotiations and attempt to find some middle ground. In all truth, this could still end up being a record deal if things lean the Parisian's way - but Liverpool certainly aren't going to make life easy in negotiations.