Liverpool’s summer rebuild of their attack remains one of the most closely watched sagas of the transfer window, with the club’s long pursuit of Bradley Barcola edging closer to a resolution — and Cody Gakpo increasingly looking like the man whose future depends on it.
Signing a genuine top-level winger has been Liverpool’s top priority in this summer’s transfer window as they look to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah, whose exit was confirmed after the Egyptian’s departure for Trabzonspor. That search hasn’t been straightforward — the Reds have already missed out on both Yan Diomande and Michael Olise earlier in the window.
Barcola has emerged as the club’s clear leading target. Reports indicate the PSG forward is keen on a move to Anfield and has told PSG he doesn’t want to extend his contract beyond 2028, despite being only a bit-part player for the French champions last season while remaining one of Europe’s standout wingers.
Money remains the sticking point. PSG are said to be holding firm around £120 million for Barcola, a figure Liverpool are reluctant to meet in full, with the club instead hoping to land him for under £100 million plus incentives designed to bridge the gap toward PSG’s valuation. Despite the financial distance, there is said to be genuine optimism on Liverpool’s side that a deal can be completed, particularly with indications that the player himself is willing to make the move. One report adds that PSG’s valuation of Barcola has been pegged as high as roughly $195.7 million, a fee that would surpass the club-record sum paid for Alexander Isak last summer and could push Liverpool toward alternative targets if it isn’t brought down. Elsewhere, a fresh update suggests Liverpool’s asking price framework has shifted, with talks described as ongoing rather than finished.
The knock-on effect of the Barcola pursuit is being felt most by Gakpo. Liverpool are now said to be open to offloading the Dutchman as they continue chasing Barcola, with Gakpo’s link to a move to Tottenham potentially shaping the rest of Liverpool’s summer business.
Spurs’ interest is real and longstanding. Tottenham are still hoping to sign Gakpo, with manager Roberto De Zerbi understood to be a big admirer of the player, alongside Manchester City’s Savinho. However, Liverpool are not currently willing to let him go, and insiders say that even during the World Cup and throughout July, Liverpool insisted on keeping Gakpo, with the situation likely only to shift if Tottenham table a genuinely strong financial offer that the player himself wants to accept.
Liverpool’s stance appears conditional rather than fixed. The club will reportedly consider selling Gakpo for around £60 million — but only once reinforcements arrive in attack, with sources indicating Liverpool are unlikely to negotiate his departure until they’ve brought in one or two new attackers themselves. That view is echoed elsewhere: unless Liverpool land one or two more forwards, such as Barcola, they won’t entertain letting Gakpo leave. Not everyone is convinced a sale makes sense — former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld argued Gakpo is a primary player for any team given his size, pace, and ability to play on either flank while consistently finding space in the box, while noting the move might reflect Liverpool wanting a fresh start following managerial change.
Barcola and Gakpo aren’t the only names in play. Liverpool have also been linked with PSG’s 18-year-old winger Ibrahim Mbaye, though reports suggest the Reds have pulled back from that deal after talks with his representatives, with PSG’s asking price of between £34 million and £42 million considered too high. Mbaye has struggled for regular game time in Paris, with the manager favouring Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué and Barcola ahead of him. Separately, PSG are said to value Mbaye and Barcola at a combined £171 million, a package Liverpool are reportedly unwilling to fund in full, meaning the club’s second wide addition may ultimately come from elsewhere. Liverpool have already made one move in this area, having signed winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna earlier in the window.
The urgency behind Liverpool’s business isn’t limited to Salah’s exit. The club also need to replace Hugo Ekitike, at least in the short term, after he suffered a serious Achilles injury that will keep him out for a lengthy period. There are also suggestions that Liverpool have been exploring other names to strengthen their hand in negotiations — reported interest in Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, valued by his club at around £75 million, is being read by some as a tactic to pressure PSG into lowering their Barcola demands by showing Liverpool have alternatives. That same report notes growing internal concern at Anfield over whether the squad’s wide options can absorb losing another winger if the Barcola deal doesn’t materialise.
With the transfer window running until September 1, all sides of this three-way puzzle — Barcola’s arrival, Gakpo’s potential departure, and a decision on a second wide addition — look set to remain unresolved for at least a little while longer.