Liverpool Pursue PSG Stars Barcola and Mbaye with New Bids
Liverpool have stepped up their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain pair Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, with fresh bids reportedly lodged for both players as the Premier League side push to supercharge their squad.
Liverpool turn back to PSG after defensive rebuild
The early part of Liverpool’s summer has been about shoring up the spine. Jeremy Jacquet arrived from Stade Rennais for £55m, Victor Munoz joined from Osasuna in a £34.5m deal, and Ronald Araujo has come in on loan from Barcelona. Three signings, three statements: defence first.
Now the focus has swung sharply to the other end of the pitch.
Liverpool have long targeted wide reinforcements and see Barcola, in particular, as a key piece in the next phase of their rebuild. Mbaye, a highly rated defender, is also on their list as they look to blend youth, versatility and top-level pedigree.
Barcola pursuit reaches critical stage
Barcola has been on Liverpool’s radar for months. Talks have been ongoing as the club try to close the gap between their valuation and PSG’s price.
Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel last week, underlined just how committed Liverpool remain to the chase.
He stressed that Barcola’s situation is “absolutely linked to Liverpool” and that the club are “still trying” to get a deal done despite a clear financial gap between what PSG want and what Liverpool have so far put on the table. According to Romano, personal terms with the player are already in place, with Liverpool and PSG “keep talking, exchanging messages and discussing for Barcola”. In his words: “The deal is alive.”
The message is clear: Liverpool have not backed off, even after months of back-and-forth and early claims that Barcola was “untouchable”.
Enrique hints at change as duo left out
Luis Enrique has not named Barcola or Mbaye directly, but his recent comments and team selections have only fuelled the sense that movement is coming.
Over the weekend, the PSG head coach spoke about the need to reshape his squad around players fully committed to the club and his style.
“We are a very young, very ambitious team. It is important for us to make changes and look for players who enjoy playing our way and who love playing for PSG,” he said. “When a player doesn’t want to come here, or doesn’t have a smile on their face about being here, it is better to find another solution.”
On Sunday, Enrique left both Barcola and Mbaye out of the squad for PSG’s Trophée des Champions defeat to Lens. After the game, he refused to be drawn into specifics, simply stating: “I’ll talk about the situation after the transfer window has passed.”
It sounded like a manager braced for departures.
£172m price tag and Liverpool’s double bid
PSG’s stance remains firm. The French champions are understood to value Barcola at around £130m, with Mbaye priced at roughly £42m. That combined £172m figure represents a major hurdle for any buying club, even one with Liverpool’s resources and ambition.
Yet the Merseyside club have now gone back in.
A well-known X account with more than 700,000 followers, which claims to have a team of “five elite reporters”, reported on Monday evening that Liverpool had submitted new bids for both Barcola and Mbaye.
The account described it as a “double bomb”, stating that around 5pm Liverpool sent “fresh new bids” for the PSG duo. The same report suggested that sources close to the talks believe Liverpool are confident of getting the Barcola deal over the line, and “quietly hopeful” that their offer for Mbaye will also be accepted.
Confidence on one front. Cautious optimism on the other.
A defining swing in Liverpool’s window?
Liverpool’s hierarchy have already backed their manager with major defensive investment. Landing Barcola would add a marquee attacking signing to that work, and Mbaye would further deepen their options at the back.
PSG, though, hold the cards on price. Liverpool have made their move. The bids are in.
Now the window’s next big battle plays out between Anfield and Paris: who blinks first on £172m?
