Romano Confirms Liverpool's Pursuit of Barcola Amidst Transfer Negotiations
Fabrizio Romano is not backing off. While reports in England suggested Liverpool had slammed the brakes on a move for Bradley Barcola, the transfer specialist insists the chase is very much on.
Liverpool have already reshaped key areas of their squad, bringing in Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz. The next piece of the puzzle is clear: a top-tier winger to help fill the enormous void left by Mohamed Salah.
At the top of that list sits Barcola.
The PSG wide man, tied to a contract until 2028 but reportedly unwilling to extend, is understood to be keen on the switch to Anfield. Liverpool have been in direct talks over a fee, trying to find a compromise with a PSG hierarchy said to be demanding around £145m.
A claim on Friday suggested the Premier League side had “paused negotiations”, pointing to two unnamed factors behind the supposed cooling of interest. Romano, though, has gone the other way.
On his YouTube channel, he underlined that Liverpool are “still trying for Barcola” and made it clear he is “absolutely all in” on the transfer happening.
“What does it (the Torres and Godts arrivals) mean? That there is an expectation there could be movements around the situation of Bradley Barcola,” Romano said, linking PSG’s business to the Frenchman’s future.
He then nailed his colours to the mast.
“The situation of Barcola remains absolutely linked to Liverpool. I never stopped telling you and I remain absolutely all in on this story, because Liverpool want Barcola.
“Liverpool are negotiating for Barcola, and because I was believing in this news already in April, May, when the story and the narrative around was that Barcola was untouchable. But I remain on this story again today.
“Liverpool are still trying for Barcola. There’s still a gap in financial valuation between what PSG want and what Liverpool offer, but they’re still working for Barcola.
The financial agreement with the player is okay, and now Liverpool and PSG keep talking, exchanging messages and discussing for Barcola.
The deal is alive.
So the picture is clear: personal terms are in place, the player is on board, and the two clubs remain locked in a stand-off over the fee. For a Liverpool side trying to reinvent their attack after Salah, it is a saga that could define their summer.
Carragher sounds alarm over Liverpool midfield
While the spotlight lingers on the flanks and Barcola’s future, Jamie Carragher is staring straight at the middle of the pitch. And he does not like what he sees.
“The midfield for me is still a huge problem for Liverpool,” the former defender said on The Overlap Fan Debate.
He has dipped into pre-season, not obsessively, but enough to form a view.
“I haven’t watched all the pre-season games, but I watched the last two against decent opposition – it was Leeds and then Monaco.
“And the problem Liverpool had last season was there was space everywhere in midfield. That has not gone away at all.”
The concern is structural, not just individual. Carragher believes the current set-up, and the way key players are being used, risks stretching Liverpool’s core even further.
“That’s only going to get bigger with the deployment of [Dominik] Szoboszlai in midfield,” he warned.
“It looks like they’re going to play him, rather than as a number 10, almost as a central midfield player alongside [Ryan] Gravenberch and that is just pure box-to-box.”
Box-to-box energy without control. Attacking firepower without a shield. Carragher’s verdict cuts through the transfer noise: even if Barcola walks through the door, Liverpool’s season may still hinge on whether they can close those yawning gaps in the middle of the park.
