Liverpool close in on £120m Barcola as Gakpo's Anfield future hangs in doubt

Liverpool are on the verge of signing Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth £120million, with the clubs having reached a breakthrough in negotiations after PSG initially demanded around £145m for the France international. The agreement, though not yet finalised, would represent another enormous outlay on Liverpool’s forward line following Alexander Isak’s £125m arrival and Florian Wirtz’s £116m signing 12 months ago.

Barcola, who is not a guaranteed starter under Luis Enrique at PSG, is understood to be keen on the move to Anfield. The 22-year-old’s potential arrival immediately raises questions over the future of Cody Gakpo, with manager Andoni Iraola declining to confirm the Dutch winger would still be at the club when the transfer window closes.

“When the market is open you cannot guarantee anything with anyone,” Iraola said. “I cannot guarantee anything. You think I can smell who we are going to sign or what position, but experience shows you that if there is an opportunity on the last day, let’s take it.”

Gakpo, signed under Jürgen Klopp, impressed in Liverpool’s Premier League opener and scored in their draw at Newcastle. Despite that bright start to the season, the former PSV forward managed only nine goals last campaign — a drop from the double-digit returns in each of his previous two seasons. Tottenham and Manchester City are among the clubs reported to be monitoring his situation.

Liverpool’s attacking recruitment drive does not stop with Barcola. The club are also pursuing Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr, according to the Independent, after an opening bid of £50m was turned down by Palace. The Reds had also been linked with Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh before shifting focus to Sarr.

The flurry of activity underlines the scale of the rebuild Iraola is overseeing. Liverpool finished fifth last season — a sharp fall from the title they won the year before — and despite the club’s substantial investment in the squad, questions remain about its balance and depth heading into the new campaign. Barcola’s arrival, should the deal be completed, would add another high-profile attacking option but could simultaneously trigger a significant departure.