Liverpool close in on £120m Barcola as Wirtz reveals Iraola's vision for new-look attack

Liverpool have reached an agreement worth £120 million with Paris Saint-Germain for winger Bradley Barcola, though the finer details of the deal are yet to be finalised. The 23-year-old France international remains a PSG player for now but was left out of their Ligue 1 matchday squad for Friday’s clash against Lille — the latest in a string of omissions that signals his imminent departure.

Barcola had already been unused as a substitute in PSG’s UEFA Super Cup win over Aston Villa and was absent from their domestic fixtures against Lens and Rennes. Should the transfer be completed, he would become Liverpool’s second-most expensive signing of all time, behind only Alexander Isak’s £125m move.

The winger delivered a productive 2024-25 campaign, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists across 49 appearances in all competitions. He was part of the PSG squad that claimed back-to-back Champions League titles, though he faced stiff competition for starts from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué.

Elsewhere at the club, Florian Wirtz has opened up on his role under new head coach Andoni Iraola. The German midfielder endured an unsettled debut season in England under Arne Slot, alternating between an attacking midfield position and a role off the left without ever fully nailing down either. Iraola has since made his intentions clear, publicly identifying Wirtz as his first-choice number ten and the creative hub of the team.

Speaking with Sky Germany, Wirtz described the clarity Iraola has brought to his game. “He just wants to play power football going forward. Lots of pressing. The tasks you have are actually relatively clear,” the 23-year-old said. “Of course, we now have to work on making it work as a team — not only that everyone does their job well, but that it also harmonises together. But he definitely makes a very good impression on me. I think that he reaches a lot of players with it.”

Liverpool return to Premier League action this weekend when they host Nottingham Forest in their first home game of the season, still searching for their first league win after a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United on the opening weekend.