Liverpool eye Bradley Barcola but PSG set £145m valuation as talks loom

Liverpool are preparing an opening bid for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, but the French champions have placed a valuation of about €170m (£145m) on the France international and are determined not to back down.

According to The Athletic, Liverpool have identified Barcola as a priority target to strengthen their attack before the new season and are ready to move formally with a first offer in the coming days.

Barcola, who was born in France and has Togolese roots, is understood to be keen on a move to Anfield. The 21-year-old is attracted by the prospect of playing in the Premier League and sees Liverpool as an appealing next step after his breakthrough at Olympique Lyonnais and subsequent development at Paris Saint-Germain.

That stance from the player is seen as a factor that could help talks between all parties, but the deal is expected to be complex given PSG’s firm position on his value.

PSG stand firm on price

PSG, conscious of Barcola’s age, potential and current importance to their squad, are not willing to sanction a sale at a cut price. The French champions have internally set his valuation at around €170m, a figure described as indicative of £145m.

Liverpool consider that price to be excessive and have no intention of matching PSG’s demand. Despite this, the club are still planning to lodge an initial proposal to open formal negotiations and test the Ligue 1 side’s resolve.

The sizeable gap between PSG’s asking price and what Liverpool are prepared to pay suggests any agreement would require significant compromise and could take time to reach, if it proves possible at all.

Lengthy negotiations expected

Liverpool’s interest is described as genuine and strong, but the disparity in valuations points towards a drawn-out and potentially difficult set of discussions.

Barcola’s market value is currently estimated at €90m by Transfermarkt, well below PSG’s internal price tag. That difference underlines the scale of the negotiations facing Liverpool if they are to persuade the French champions to sell.

The coming weeks are expected to be crucial in determining Barcola’s future. With the player open to a switch to Anfield and PSG maintaining a hard line over the fee, the situation has the potential to become one of the most closely watched transfer sagas in the final phase of the window.