Liverpool ready to spend up to €150m to make Barcola second-most expensive French player ever

Liverpool and PSG are in advanced negotiations for Bradley Barcola’s transfer, with a fee now discussed between €135 and €150 million. If the deal goes through, the French international would become the second-most expensive transfer involving a French player, behind Kylian Mbappé, who was recruited by PSG for €180 million.

Discussions have progressed after an initial offer from the Reds, around €90 million, was rejected by PSG’s management. The transfer window closes in eight days, which gives these negotiations a particularly urgent character.

The timing is striking: Ayyoub Bouaddi had just established himself as the most expensive transfer in Ligue 1 history, with his move from LOSC to Manchester City for €100 million — a fee that had already surpassed Neymar’s record, sold for €90 million to Al-Hilal in summer 2023. The record of the 18-year-old Lille midfielder could therefore prove short-lived.

With a fee between €135 and €150 million, Barcola would also surpass Ousmane Dembélé, bought for €135 million by FC Barcelona, and Paul Pogba, for whom Manchester United paid €105 million. The former Olympique Lyonnais player, recruited by PSG in summer 2023, has established himself as one of the most decisive attacking players at the Paris club over the past two seasons.