£145m Barcola valuation “proving problematic” as Liverpool plan for five wingers

Club-to-club talks between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain were expected this week after Bradley Barcola emerged as the No. 1 target to reinforce Andoni Iraola's attack. The conversation has stalled on one number.

Paul Joyce of The Times reports that PSG's £145 million valuation of the 23-year-old is “proving problematic.” Liverpool had hoped to find middle ground closer to £100 million and have no appetite whatsoever for matching the French club's figure.

That is why no formal bid has landed. The Reds are well aware an offer around £100m would be rejected on receipt, and there is little value in making a public move designed to fail.

Not everyone is pessimistic

L'Equipe's Loic Tanzi strikes a more optimistic tone, reporting that all parties still believe a solution can be found. He adds that “the English club has no intention of meeting PSG's demands, which exceed €150 million, including bonuses” — which reads as confidence that Paris will eventually move rather than that Liverpool will.

In the meantime the club have, in Joyce's words, “broadened their search for attacking reinforcements” and are “considering a number of options.” Interest in 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye is described as separate to the Barcola pursuit rather than an alternative to it.

The five-winger plan

Sky Sports report that Liverpool intend to carry five wingers into next season. They currently have three: Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha and Victor Munoz. One of the additions is earmarked as “a younger player they want to develop” — which is precisely where Mbaye fits.

Mbaye ticks several boxes beyond talent. Predominantly a right winger, he is comfortable on the left, brings pace and directness, and would not occupy a non-homegrown slot in the Premier League squad. Registered as an U21 player now, he would qualify as homegrown in time.

Supporters — and, reportedly, Iraola himself — can point to other areas of the squad that need work. Joyce is unambiguous that the hierarchy disagrees: the priority remains bolstering the forward line.