Liverpool Intensifies Pursuit of PSG's Barcola and Mbaye

Liverpool are accelerating their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain pair Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola as the transfer window hurtles towards its September 1 deadline in England.

New head coach Andoni Iraola wants more firepower. Liverpool’s back line has been reinforced with Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo, and Victor Munoz has arrived from Osasuna after the club triggered his £34.5 million release clause during the World Cup. Beyond that, the attack still looks thin.

Alexander Isak, Munoz and teenage livewire Rio Ngumoha headline the current options, but the depth behind them is fragile. Hugo Ekitike remains a long-term absentee, while the futures of Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa at Anfield are uncertain. Academy products Lewis Koumas and Will Wright, along with Trey Nyoni and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, saw heavy minutes in pre-season, a reminder of how stretched Iraola’s frontline could become once the competitive schedule bites.

Salah-sized Hole

And then there is the Salah-sized hole.

Liverpool have yet to land a marquee replacement for Mohamed Salah after the club icon departed at the end of last season to join Trabzonspor. Internally, Barcola has been identified as the man to grow into that role on the right. According to French outlet RMC Sport, Liverpool are preparing a new bid for the France international this week as talks with PSG continue.

There is still a gap between the clubs’ valuations. Liverpool, though, are described as determined to keep pushing, convinced Barcola can be the long-term successor to Salah rather than a short-term patch.

While that negotiation rumbles on, the move for Mbaye is gathering serious pace. The same report claims Liverpool’s separate pursuit of the 18-year-old winger is “progressing rapidly”, with discussions set to accelerate after the player agreed terms on a five-year contract running until 2031.

One key obstacle appears to have cleared. Bayer Leverkusen, previously seen as major rivals for Mbaye’s signature, are now not expected to continue their chase for the teenager, who was born in France but represents Senegal at international level. That leaves Liverpool in a strong position as they look to close out a deal.

The tension around both transfers spiked at the weekend. Barcola and Mbaye were left out of PSG’s squad entirely for Sunday’s French Super Cup defeat to Lens, a decision that only fuelled speculation over their futures in Paris.

Luis Enrique refused to be drawn into the storm. Asked about the duo after the loss, the PSG coach replied: “I will only talk about the transfer window at the end of the transfer window, not before or after. When the transfer window is closed, I will talk about all the subjects.”

Liverpool cannot wait that long. With the clock ticking and Salah gone, the next few days will reveal whether Iraola gets the wide attackers he wants to reshape an attack that suddenly looks very different.