Bradley Barcola's move to Liverpool is no longer just a name in the market. Fabrizio Romano says the €170m starting point is already out of the picture, Liverpool and Paris Saint Germain are in direct contact, and Barcola is not travelling with the PSG squad to Rennes on Sunday. The deal now looks like a question of price and structure rather than whether there is any appetite at all.

Liverpool and PSG are talking over the fee

The earliest figures were a long way apart. Liverpool have offered €100m (£86m) and €115m (£98m) for Barcola, while PSG initially demanded €170m (£145m). Romano’s update for football365.com was clear on the direction of travel: "I always told you here it’s not going to be €170m; it’s going to be less than this, so the conversation is ongoing to try to find the best structure of the deal for all parties involved."

He added on the same outlet that Liverpool and PSG are "talking in a direct way" and that the deal is still alive. That is the key shift. This has moved beyond a speculative link and into the part of the process where both clubs are trying to make the numbers work.

Barcola’s recent level helps explain why Liverpool are still pushing. His last five tracked matches carry an average rating of 6.9, with highs of 7.9 and a low of 6.31. It is not a flawless run, but it is enough to keep him in the category of a premium target.

PSG's stance keeps the door open

PSG are not acting as if they have to sell, but they are not closing the door either. Luis Campos said, "The transfer window isn’t over at all. Even with incoming transfers, if we find a good opportunity, we’re going to go for it. In terms of departures, we’ll see what happens regarding Barcola and Mbaye."

That sits alongside the decision to leave Barcola out of the squad for the first game of PSG’s Ligue 1 title defence at Rennes on Sunday. The same omission was described in slightly different ways elsewhere, but the headline is the same: the winger is not involved, and his situation remains live.

PSG’s wider run has not been especially settled either. Their last five results include a draw with Rennes, a loss to Lens and a win over Aston Villa, while Liverpool have beaten PSG once and lost once in their last two verified meetings. Neither side is in a position to claim complete control of the exchange.

Liverpool’s wider attacking work also matters here. Lewis Steele reported that they remain hopeful of signing Barcola this week and are weighing up whether to make a third bid for Yankuba Minteh. That does not rule Barcola out, but it does show Liverpool are keeping options open rather than waiting on one move alone.

The strongest reading now is straightforward enough. Liverpool are serious, PSG are negotiating, and the price gap has already narrowed from the original €170m demand. If the deal goes through, it should happen in the next few days, because Romano expects Liverpool to go "very strong" for Barcola and the squad omission has already kept the exit door open on Sunday.

FAQ

Will Liverpool sign Bradley Barcola before the window closes?

The move is still alive, but it is not done. Fabrizio Romano says Liverpool and Paris Saint Germain are talking directly, Liverpool have already sent proposals, and the €170m starting point is no longer in play. Barcola is also not travelling with the PSG squad to Rennes on Sunday.

Why are Liverpool still pushing for Bradley Barcola?

Liverpool have offered €100m and €115m, while PSG initially asked for €170m. Romano says the clubs are working on the structure of the deal and Liverpool want to complete it in the next few days. The winger’s omission from the PSG squad keeps the exit door open.

How far apart are Liverpool and PSG on Bradley Barcola's price?

The exact fee is still unresolved, but the gap has narrowed from PSG’s original €170m demand. Liverpool have already bid €100m and €115m, and Romano says the €170m figure is off the table. The talks are now about structure as much as price.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 7 outlets. How we work →