Bradley Barcola has given a ‘verbal agreement’ to join Liverpool, according to reports from L’Equipe, as the Premier League club pursue a replacement for Mohamed Salah. Liverpool are currently in concrete talks with Paris Saint-Germain regarding a potential transfer for the 23-year-old winger, with Arsenal also previously linked with a move.
PSG had reportedly been attempting to extend Barcola’s contract, which is currently set to expire in 2028, but those negotiations have stalled. This has led the French club to place a €170 million price tag on the player should they decide to sell this summer. While Liverpool are yet to reach an agreement with PSG on a fee, Barcola has communicated his preference to join Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola’s side.
However, this ‘verbal agreement’ does not represent a formal contract between the player and the club, only indicating Barcola’s willingness to move to Anfield if a deal can be struck with PSG. The situation has been further complicated by PSG’s recent failure to secure Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, with the winger instead opting to join Real Madrid.
PSG’s pursuit of Diomande was intended to fill the potential void left by Barcola’s departure, and the club may now be inclined to retain the Frenchman unless their significant valuation is met. Liverpool are believed to be aiming for a fee closer to €120 million, considerably lower than PSG’s asking price. The club initially expressed interest in Barcola last summer, and have now renewed their efforts to bring him to Merseyside.
Arsenal were also monitoring Barcola’s situation, but have reportedly shifted their focus to Vinicius Junior, potentially clearing the path for Liverpool to finalize a deal. The gap between the two clubs’ valuations remains ‘significant,’ and it remains to be seen if a compromise can be reached in the coming weeks. Securing Barcola would provide Liverpool with a high-profile attacking addition as they look to build on their recent squad overhaul.
