Liverpool are plotting a transfer move for Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola in the event that their bid to sign top target Alexander Isak ends in failure.
The Premier League champions had appeared to have got the bulk of their transfer business over the line having secured deals for Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.
But the landscape changed dramatically as Isak dropped a bombshell at St James’ Park, with the 25-year-old forward informing Newcastle of his desire to explore a fresh challenge elsewhere.
Sensing an opportunity, Liverpool wasted little time in testing Newcastle’s resolve with an opening offer of £110million – plus adds-on – for the Sweden international, which was rejected out of hand.
The Magpies are believed to be holding out for a fee in the region of £150m for their star striker and the Reds are expected to return with a follow-up bid in due course.
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With speculation mounting over Isak’s future, the attacker was ordered to train separately from Eddie Howe’s squad and stay away from a barbecue at Newcastle’s training ground on Wednesday.
According to L’Equipe, Liverpool have been forced to ‘consider their options’ while Newcastle dig in their heels over Isak and Paris Saint-Germain forward Barcola has emerged as a potential back-up target.
It’s claimed Liverpool are yet to give up hope of landing Isak, but Barcola is one of two names – along with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo – that ‘stand out’ should a move for Newcastle’s talisman prove impossible.
The Merseyside giants are said to have been ‘following Barcola for a long time’ and could take advantage of this ‘loyalty’ to convince the winger to move to swap Paris for Anfield.
However, the report suggests PSG are unlikely to let Barcola leave for anything less than €100 million (£87m) this summer.
Barcola’s current contract at the French capital runs through to June 2028.
The 22-year-old has scored 26 goals in 103 games since joining PSG from Lyon back in 2023, helping the club win seven pieces of silverware, including last season’s Champions League trophy in that time.
In May, Barcola was named in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year along with eight of his PSG team-mates.
Bayern Munich have also registered a strong interest in Barcola in recent months, but Luis Enrique has been keen to shut down any suggestion that the France international could be on the move.
‘Bradley Barcola’s future? I have no doubt he’ll remain our player,’ the PSG head coach told reporters in June.
‘We like the fact that our players are interesting to other clubs. But he’s one of those young players we’ve been banking on.
‘I expect him to play here for many more years.’
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