Andoni Iraola faces a tough challenge as Liverpool’s chase for Bradley Barcola runs into big trouble
Liverpool’s attempt to sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola has hit a big roadblock after talks between the two clubs.
Barcola has been linked with a move to Liverpool recently, and reports say the French player is open to joining the Premier League. Both teams had some initial discussions this week, but according to Sky Sports News, they still can’t agree on how much Barcola is worth.
PSG values him at about £145 million, but Liverpool isn’t willing to pay that much. Because of this, the deal isn’t close to happening right now. If nothing changes before the September 1 deadline, Liverpool might have to look at other players instead.
Barcola has two years left on his contract and doesn’t want to sign a new one at PSG because he’s not getting enough playing time. Liverpool’s coach, Andoni Iraola, sees Barcola as a key piece for their attack.
In other news, Barcola’s PSG teammate, 18-year-old right winger Ibrahim Mbaye, is also being talked about. Mbaye, from Senegal, is interested in moving to Liverpool, though these two deals are separate.
Sky Sports News also says Liverpool wants to have five wingers by the end of the transfer window. The club already signed Victor Munoz from Osasuna this summer. Federico Chiesa, Cody Gakpo (who Spurs are after), and Rio Ngumoha are also options on the wings for Iraola.
Liverpool is also looking for a centre-back because Joe Gomez, Jeremy Jacquet, and Giovanni Leoni are all injured. That leaves Virgil van Dijk as the only fit centre-back right now.
Liverpool’s Premier League season starts with an away game at Newcastle United on August 23. Before that, they’ll play friendlies against AS Monaco and Como as Iraola works on getting the team ready with his intense style.
In late July, Iraola said Liverpool definitely needs to sign a winger. When asked about how many new players he wants, he said it’s hard to say for sure while the market is open, but a winger is a clear priority. He also mentioned they need to keep an eye on injuries and costs while looking for the best options to improve the squad.