Liverpool pursues PSG wingers Barcola and Mbaye amid stalled negotiations

Liverpool’s summer transfer ambitions have centered on a bold raid of Paris Saint-Germain’s wing department, with the club targeting both Bradley Barcola and 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye. But PSG’s asking prices have forced a strategic rethink, pushing Liverpool away from a combined package deal that would have cost roughly £171 million.

The price tag problem

PSG has valued Barcola somewhere between £130 million and £145 million. Liverpool have reportedly found some alignment on personal terms with Barcola, suggesting the player himself isn’t the obstacle. The Parisian club’s front office is.

PSG’s resistance on fees has been consistent and firm. No agreements have materialized on either player despite ongoing conversations. The French giants recently signed winger Mika Godts from Ajax, which some observers initially interpreted as a signal that outgoing moves could follow. So far, that hasn’t translated into any softening of their stance.

Mbaye, meanwhile, carries a valuation around €50 million, which converts to approximately £42 million. The teenager has expressed a desire for more regular playing time, and Liverpool appears to recognize that his situation is the more movable piece on the board.

The clock is ticking

Both Barcola and Mbaye were included in PSG’s squad for the French Super Cup final against Lens on August 16. The summer transfer window is approaching its closing date, creating urgency for Liverpool to finalize any agreements that could bolster their attacking options.

The Mbaye track seems the likelier path forward, given the substantially lower price point and the player’s own apparent willingness to move. If Liverpool does land Mbaye at around £42 million, it would represent a significant investment in a teenager with limited senior experience.

At £130 million to £145 million, signing Barcola would place him among the most expensive transfers in football history. PSG’s willingness to spend on Godts while simultaneously maintaining sky-high asking prices for outgoing players illustrates where the power sits in these negotiations.

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