Liverpool eye record‑breaking Barcola deal as winger gap widens

[PA Media] All along, Andoni Iraola has said he will wait until 1 September to see what his squad looks like, as Liverpool aim to plug a widening gap on the right flank after Yan Diomande’s move to Real Madrid and have earmarked French winger Bradley Barcola as the prime target.

Winger shortage and market moves

Barcola has been a Liverpool priority ever since Yan Diomande opted for Real Madrid, giving the club a clear replacement plan for the departing winger.

The sense inside the media room on Thursday was that even with Barcola’s impending arrival, the Reds might not be done yet.

Iraola also confirmed that Liverpool are already scouting another winger, and he refused to guarantee that Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo will still be a Reds player when the window shuts.

Barcola deal and its implications

From Paris Saint‑Germain’s side the transfer is progressing “extremely well”, with the French club seeing an excellent sale after buying Barcola from Lyon for £38 million in 2023.

Liverpool have held firm on PSG’s initial valuation of £145 million, a figure that could rise to roughly three times the original fee once add‑ons are triggered.

If completed, the fee would set a new record for a player leaving Ligue 1.

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Barcola would bring a star factor and inject real quality into a Liverpool attack that could become widely feared if the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz step up.

Although expected to start as a bench option, the move is deemed a good deal for the back‑to‑back Champions League winners.

Iraola revealed he preferred other options over Harvey Elliott for the 2‑2 draw at Newcastle on Sunday, describing his ideal scenario as strengthening several areas.

He will wait until 1 September, when the transfer window closes, to see exactly how the squad shapes up.

The upcoming days are expected to be busy for the Reds as the window concludes, and it will be a “special” moment as Iraola takes charge at Anfield for the first time in the Premier League.

Liverpool remain in the market for an additional winger as the transfer window draws to a close.

The club will need to confirm whether Cody Gakpo stays as they finalize their summer business.