Liverpool have done one part of the job. Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola have agreed personal terms with the Reds and are now eager to make the move to Anfield. However, the hard part is yet to come for the Premier League giants, with negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain still to come, and they will be anything but easy.
The Senegalese transfer does not represent a major problem; PSG can easily afford the €50 million the Ligue 1 powerhouse is asking for. A battle for Barcola’s signature will ensue.PSG’s asking price is a staggering €170 million and, as it stands, they have no intention of budging on it. In fact, if the Reds were to meet the Parisians’ demands, the Frenchman’s transfer would become the biggest sale in the club’s history.Still, the haggling is yet to come.
Interestingly, neither Barcola nor Mbaye featured in PSG’s French Super Cup clash against Lens, while Luis Enrique indicated he wanted only players with a smile on their faces, suggesting the others should look for another solution.If anything, the Parisians have already strengthened their squad – and potentially replaced the duo – by spending €95 million on Mika Godts and Maghnes Akliouche. That also means that Barcola and Mbaye can either come to terms with a reduced role or push for a move at all costs.