Barcola risks PSG nightmare scenario as Liverpool plot statement transfer
The Reds have monitored the 23-year-old's situation for some time now, with hopes of bringing him to Anfield for 2026/27. Andoni Iraola will be looking for attacking reinforcements following a patchwork season from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah's recent departure.
And while the likes of Yan Diomande, Said El Mala and Yankuba Minteh have all been touted as potential targets, it is Barcola who is thought to be priority No. 1. The Frenchman is coming off the back of a Ligue 1 and Champions League winning season with Les Blues, as well as a standout World Cup campaign with his nation.
However, the crux is that PSG are in no rush to sell one of their most prized assets, who is contracted at the Parc des Princes for another two years. As a result, the club are commanding a fee of a staggering £145million, which would make him a British record transfer.
That's despite CIES Football Observatory placing a valuation of around £85m on the winger. Should Liverpool fail to strike a deal with PSG in the coming weeks, then Barcola's future under Enrique could look incredibly bleak.
Sources within the club have told the Athletic that the Spaniard only wants committed players in his ranks for the new season. And given Barcola is open for a move away from the French capital ahead of September's deadline, he may not fall into that bracket.
That could see Barcola fall out of favour under Enrique, and subsequently dropped to the bench or PSG's reserves as a result. However, the Reds could see stiff competition in signing Barcola in the coming weeks.
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While Vinicius Jr looks a more likely target for them, Arsenal have also been touted with a move for Barcola recently - with Mikel Arteta looking to bolster his own attacking line. An ability to pry Vini Jr from Real Madrid would leave Liverpool as realistically the only Premier League team able to bring in Barcola, so it's a saga fans will be watching closely.
However, that could also be a complicated state of affairs. Not only are Los Blancos asking for around £137m for the Brazilian, but he is also set to undergo talks over a possible contract extension.
It is understood that the 26-year-old will not return to pre-season training under Jose Mourinho until said talks have been completed. Should a deal for Barcola fail to come to fruition for Liverpool, meanwhile, it may not be the end of the world - given the Reds have other options to explore.
While Chelsea's Pedro Neto has been brought into conversation, a deal for the Portuguese forward will not come cheap - with the Stamford Bridge looking to recuperate a significant amount after a summer of big spending.
Porto's Oskar Pietuszewski is another option, although the 18-year-old may require more time to develop before he is ready for consistent first-team football at Premier League level.