Liverpool Pursues Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola

Liverpool are moving fast in their bid to reshape the attack – and they are doing it in Paris.

The club’s pursuit of Ibrahim Mbaye is “progressing rapidly”, with the teenager understood to have agreed terms on a five-year deal running to 2031, according to fresh reports in France. Liverpool are also preparing a new offer for his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Bradley Barcola as they race the clock before the English transfer window closes on September 1.

Andoni Iraola has made no secret of his need for more firepower. The defence has been rebuilt with Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo through the door, and Victor Munoz arrived from Osasuna after Liverpool triggered his £34.5 million release clause during the World Cup. Beyond that, though, the front line still looks thin.

Behind record signing Alexander Isak, Munoz and teenage livewire Rio Ngumoha, the options quickly run out. Hugo Ekitike remains a long-term absentee, while uncertainty hangs over the futures of Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa. The gaps were clear in pre-season, when academy products Lewis Koumas and Will Wright, along with youngsters Trey Nyoni and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, were heavily involved to plug holes rather than simply add sparkle.

There is also the shadow of Mohamed Salah. The club icon walked away at the end of last season and has since joined Trabzonspor, leaving a gaping space on the right that Liverpool have yet to fill with a marquee name.

Barcola has been earmarked as that man. RMC Sport report that Liverpool are expected to lodge a fresh bid with PSG this week for the France international, with talks ongoing and a difference in valuation still to be bridged. The determination at Anfield, though, is to keep pushing.

At the same time, the chase for Mbaye has kicked up a gear. The same outlet claims Liverpool’s move for the 18-year-old winger is advancing quickly, with negotiations set to accelerate now that personal terms are in place. One key obstacle appears to have been removed: Bayer Leverkusen, seen as serious rivals for his signature, are no longer expected to pursue a deal.

Born in France but representing Senegal at international level, Mbaye has become one of the most talked-about young wide players in Europe. That noise only grew louder at the weekend.

Both Mbaye and Barcola were left out of the PSG squad entirely for Sunday’s French Super Cup defeat to Lens, a decision that immediately fuelled speculation over their futures. The omission of two high-profile wingers in the middle of intense transfer discussions did not go unnoticed.

Luis Enrique, though, refused to be drawn. Asked about the pair after the game, the PSG head coach said: “I will only talk about the transfer window at the end of the transfer window, not before or after. When the transfer window is closed, I will talk about all the subjects.”

For Liverpool, the clock is ticking. Two PSG wingers, one gaping hole where Salah once stood, and less than a fortnight to decide what this new-look attack will really be.