Barcola not for sale at PSG as Liverpool's £112m Diomande target admits he expects to leave Leipzig

Paris Saint-Germain have shut down speculation linking Bradley Barcola with a move to Liverpool, insisting the French winger is not for sale, while Yan Diomande — the other wide target on Liverpool’s radar — has confirmed he anticipates leaving RB Leipzig before the transfer window closes.

According to The Athletic, PSG have no financial need to sell Barcola and are holding firm despite the 23-year-old’s reluctance to sign a new contract. With two years remaining on his current deal, Barcola is said to be concerned about his playing time at the Parc des Princes. PSG have placed a valuation of more than £116m on the winger — a figure benchmarked against the £116m Manchester City have agreed to pay Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson. Barcola joined PSG from Lyon in 2023 and contributed 13 goals and seven assists last season as the club won Ligue 1 and retained the Champions League.

The Diomande situation is more fluid. The 19-year-old Ivory Coast international, speaking ahead of his country’s World Cup round-of-32 fixture against Norway, said he is focused on the tournament but acknowledged a summer exit from Leipzig is coming. “I expect to leave [RB Leipzig] of course,” Diomande said. “I have an agent who’s going to manage the rest, but for me the most important thing right now is focusing on the World Cup with my country and making history with them.”

Liverpool reportedly had an £86.7m bid for Diomande rejected earlier this month, with Leipzig holding out for closer to £112m. Reports suggest the teenager personally favours a move to PSG over Anfield, complicating Liverpool’s pursuit.

The search for wide reinforcements has taken on added urgency at Liverpool as the club navigates the post-Mohamed Salah era under new manager Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot after the Reds finished fifth in the Premier League last season. Iraola has already secured his first signing, agreeing a deal for Osasuna winger Victor Munoz, but the club’s ambitions clearly extend further.

With Barcola effectively ruled out and Diomande’s preferred destination uncertain, Liverpool may need to broaden their shortlist if they are to address their wide positions before the window shuts.