Liverpool close in on Bradley Barcola as Iraola seeks perfect winger

Liverpool have reached an agreement in principle to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint‑Germain, a deal reported to start at just over £100 million and potentially rise to £120 million. The French left‑winger arrives days before the transfer deadline, a timing that matches manager Andoni Iraola’s insistence on securing a specific type of winger for his system at Anfield.

Iraola explained that his ideal wide players must combine pace, the ability to attack spaces in isolation and the defensive work‑rate required for pressing and covering full‑backs. He admitted he would have liked his wingers ready for pre‑season, but acknowledged the market’s difficulty, noting that “the wingers we are trying to sign are of a high level and wanted by many clubs”. Liverpool’s earlier pursuit of Yan Diomande fell through after an offer of up to £86 million was rejected, and the club have already added Victor Munoz, who debuted as a substitute on the right at Newcastle. Other targets include Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr, both right‑sided options.

Barcola’s recent output includes 11 Ligue 1 goals at an average of a goal every 159 minutes, and a combined 21 goals and 21 assists across all competitions in PSG’s 2024‑25 season, plus three goals at the World Cup. By contrast, Mohamed Salah arrived for £36.5 million, a sum now seen as modest amid soaring wing‑player fees – Chelsea recently paid £117 million for Morgan Rogers and PSG had initially quoted £145 million for Barcola.

The Frenchman has been on Liverpool’s radar for years, having impressed against the club in a 2022 Dubai friendly with Lyon. Iraola hopes Barcola will finally tick every box, providing the pace, creativity and work‑rate required to sustain Liverpool’s attacking philosophy.