It feels like the saga of the summer. Bradley Barcola has been Liverpool's number one transfer target for months now, it feels like years at this point, but time seemed to be running out for this deal to get over the line. Well, could the Frenchman soon, finally, be heading for Merseyside?
As reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Liverpool have "reached an agreement in principle" with Paris Saint-Germain. He adds that the Reds have agreed to pay £120 million for Barcola, of which £100 million is guaranteed, plus £20 million in performance-based add-ons.
The deal is being finalised by under-fire sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon, with the final detailed set to be "ironed out" between the two clubs on Thursday.
Barcola has just two years remaining on his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, making it clear he has no intention of signing a new one, hence why the European champions are determined to sell. Since arriving from Olympique Lyonnais three summers ago, the 23 year old has scored 39 goals and registered 37 assists in 152 appearances for les Rouge-et-Bleu, winning back-to-back Champions League titles.
However, he is no longer central to Luis Enrique's plans, not even on the bench for PSG's first two fixtures of this season against Lens and Stade Rennais. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia alongside Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué remains Lucho's first-choice front three, while the Ligue 1 champions have also signed Ferran Torres, Maghnes Akliouche and Mika Godts this summer, so are quite well stocked in forward areas, to put it mildly.
So now, Barcola needs to get ready to swap being a squad rotation option for les Parisiens to the undisputed star of Andoni Iraola's Liverpool rebuild.
What else could happen at Liverpool before the transfer deadline?
The Reds are unlikely to be done at just signing Barcola. As was widely reported on Wednesday, the Reds are chasing Ismaïla Sarr of Crystal Palace, having made an opening offer of £50 million. The Reds have turned their attention to the Senegalese international, after walking way from any potential deal for Yankuba Minteh, given that Brighton set the price at £80 million.
If two new wingers do arrive, could that see Cody Gakpo depart? The Dutch international is of interest to both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, with Spurs seeking to further improve their attack. The Sky Blues meantime are looking for reinforcements, after selling Sávio and Omar Marmoush to Spurs, among other departures.
Thus, in short, it is going to be a busy few days before the deadline on Tuesday on Merseyside.
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