Liverpool's Pursuit of Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye Heats Up

Liverpool’s summer suddenly has a focal point. Two, in fact.

The club’s pursuit of Bradley Barcola has moved into a decisive phase, with an agreement in principle now in place with Paris Saint‑Germain over a fee for the winger, while talks also advance for highly rated Ibrahim Mbaye.

Neither deal is done. But the intent from Fenway Sports Group is unmistakable.

Barcola: from stand-off to breakthrough

Liverpool’s interest in Barcola has been no secret. TEAMtalk first detailed on July 28 that the club had locked onto the PSG winger as a major target for this window, with the player himself pushing for a move.

Barcola has already informed PSG he will not sign a new contract and wants to leave the Ligue 1 and Champions League holders. After starring for France at the 2026 World Cup, his stock has soared, and his preference, according to sources, is clear: he wants Liverpool.

PSG, though, decided early they would not be bullied into a sale. The French champions initially valued the 23‑year‑old at a towering €170m (£146m, $194m). Liverpool, for all their admiration, were never going that high.

On August 6, L’Equipe reported that Liverpool had capped their valuation at €120m (£103m, $138.2m), while PSG dug in at €150m (£128.5m, $178m). The French outlet also revealed that Liverpool had already reached a contractual agreement with the player, leaving the two clubs locked in a familiar modern standoff: personal terms done, fee not.

The deadlock has finally cracked.

Liverpool-focused outlet DaveocKop now reports that the clubs have reached an agreement in principle on a package worth around €128m (£109.8m, $147.5m). The add-ons, crucially, are said to be more realistic and achievable than those previously floated.

“There is an agreement in principle between Liverpool and PSG for the transfer of Bradley Barcola,” the report states, while stressing that nothing has yet been signed or fully completed.

For now, it remains one outlet’s claim, and Liverpool will want other sources to corroborate before anyone at Anfield dares to relax. But the shape of the deal is clear: a compromise fee, a willing player, and two clubs edging closer to a record-breaking move.

Mbaye chase swings Liverpool’s way

While Barcola dominates the headlines, Liverpool’s recruitment team have been working another PSG angle.

Ibrahim Mbaye, one of the brightest young attacking talents in Europe, has emerged as a serious target, with Fabrizio Romano outlining how the race has shifted in Liverpool’s favour.

Speaking on The Market Madness on August 6, Romano said: “There is genuine interest in Ibrahim Mbaye. There is a conversation with the new agent of the player, Jorge Mendes. Bayer Leverkusen were pushing, but now Liverpool are leading the race for Ibrahim Mbaye.”

Two days earlier, at 10:15pm on August 4, Romano posted on X: “Liverpool have made contact with Ibrahima Mbaye’s new agent Jorge Mendes. Mbaye also has proposals from Bundesliga clubs — giving priority to #LFC project. Deal was close with Leipzig but collapsed after Diomande-PSG off.”

The picture is becoming clearer. Leipzig thought they had him, only for that deal to fall apart after the Diomande‑PSG situation collapsed, opening the door for Liverpool and others. The Bundesliga interest has not gone away, but Mbaye is now giving priority to the Liverpool project.

TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey added weight to that on August 6, reporting that Liverpool are in talks with Mbaye’s representatives and that the winger himself is keen on a move to Anfield.

So Liverpool find themselves in a rare position: leading two high-profile chases, both involving PSG, both for explosive wide forwards, both with players pushing to wear red.

If FSG land even one, it reshapes Liverpool’s attack for years. If they somehow land both, the front line starts to look like the foundation of a new era.