Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal worth up to £120 million for Bradley Barcola, taking a significant step towards replacing Mohamed Salah with a player who normally operates on the other side of the pitch.
An outline agreement with Paris Saint-Germain would see Liverpool pay just over £100 million for the France international, with performance-related add-ons potentially increasing the total fee to approximately £120 million.
Barcola is an outstanding attacker who has produced 39 goals and 37 assists in 152 appearances for PSG. He is also predominantly a left-winger, which is currently one of the few attacking positions Liverpool had remembered to fill.
Cody Gakpo started on the left and scored during the club’s opening Premier League draw with Newcastle. Rio Ngumoha can also play there, while the vacancy created by Salah’s departure remains on the right.
Liverpool are understood to recognise this. The club have reportedly had two offers rejected for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh and could still pursue another right-sided forward before the transfer deadline.
The arrival of Barcola may instead place Gakpo’s future in doubt. Tottenham and Manchester City have both been linked with the Dutch international, meaning Liverpool could spend £120 million improving the left wing, sell their existing left-winger and then continue searching for the right-winger they needed at the beginning.
Andoni Iraola has explained that Liverpool require greater numbers in wide areas following Salah’s departure and the long-term injury suffered by Hugo Ekitiké. Barcola’s quality and potential also make the transfer understandable independently of any particular vacancy.
However, replacing Salah has now developed into a project involving at least two new wingers and possibly the departure of one Liverpool already possessed.
The club have responded to losing the greatest right-winger in their history by committing a nine-figure sum to the opposite flank and leaving room in the budget for the original problem.
For the moment, Liverpool’s search for Mohamed Salah’s replacement has produced a considerably more expensive replacement for Cody Gakpo.
