Liverpool are close to finalising a £120 million deal to sign French winger Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) following a breakthrough in negotiations. The agreement, reached overnight on Wednesday, involves a guaranteed fee of just over £100 million, with add-ons potentially raising the total to around £120 million. Barcola, 23, has been a primary transfer target for Liverpool throughout the summer.

PSG had initially set a valuation as high as £145 million for Barcola, but Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon, who has taken an active role in club operations, managed to negotiate a reduced fee. The move would make Barcola Liverpool’s second-most expensive signing after Alexander Isak, who joined the club for approximately £125 million.

Barcola joined PSG from Lyon in 2023 for around €45 million and has two years left on his current contract. However, the player has expressed a desire to leave, declining to extend his deal amidst limited playing opportunities. At PSG, he has fallen behind Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the attacking pecking order and has been omitted from recent matchday squads by coach Luis Enrique.

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola confirmed the club’s intent to strengthen their attacking options but declined to comment directly on any specific players, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the transfer market. "We are trying to improve and fill that position because we don’t have the numbers," Iraola said. He also addressed uncertainty over the futures of current wingers, particularly Cody Gakpo, who has attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. "When the market is open you cannot guarantee anything with anyone," Iraola added.

Barcola, known for his pace and dynamism, prefers playing on the left wing, cutting inside onto his right foot. While this profile aligns more closely with replacing Luis Díaz, a Liverpool winger who left recently, the club still needs a right-sided attacker following Mohamed Salah’s departure. Liverpool continue to pursue alternatives such as Yankuba Minteh and have explored options including Ismaila Sarr and Endrick, though no major breakthrough has been reported.

Since the start of the previous summer transfer window, Liverpool’s spending on new players has approached £670 million, reflecting a strategy focused on acquiring high-quality talent rather than filling squad depth. This approach follows the departure of former sporting director Michael Edwards. Despite some squad gaps noted by supporters and analysts, Liverpool officials have emphasized identifying elite players when opportunities arise.

Barcola’s past performance at PSG and Lyon includes a combined 42 goal involvements (goals plus assists) in the 2024-25 season, though this dropped to 20 in the 2025-26 campaign. He has faced criticism for inconsistency and his finishing, but statistical analysts note a respectable conversion rate for big chances compared to top forwards in Europe.

PSG has meanwhile referred to their recent outgoing transfers, including Barcola, as marking one of the club’s most active "supersub transfer windows," having moved other players such as Gonçalo Ramos and Lee Kang-in for significant fees despite limited starting roles last season.

Liverpool aim to complete the deal before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, potentially adding fresh attacking options as they seek to improve on last season’s performances.