Liverpool's Pursuit of Barcola and Mbaye Heats Up

Liverpool are accelerating a double raid on Paris Saint-Germain, with a deal for Ibrahim Mbaye gathering pace and a fresh bid for Bradley Barcola being lined up before the English window shuts on September 1.

Andoni Iraola wants more firepower. Liverpool’s new head coach has seen the club fortify the back line with Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo, and add Spain international Victor Munoz in attack after triggering his £34.5 million release clause at Osasuna during the World Cup. But that is it so far in the final third.

For a club that just lost Mohamed Salah, it is nowhere near enough.

Salah’s shadow and a thin attack

Salah’s departure at the end of last season, followed by his move to Trabzonspor, has left a gaping hole on the right. Liverpool have not yet unveiled a marquee replacement, and the search has defined their summer.

Alexander Isak, the record signing, carries the goalscoring burden. Munoz arrives with pedigree. Teenage talent Rio Ngumoha excites. Yet behind them, the picture is patchy. Hugo Ekitike faces a long spell out injured, while uncertainty lingers over the futures of Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa.

Pre-season underlined the lack of depth. Academy products Lewis Koumas and Will Wright were heavily involved, as were youngsters Trey Nyoni and Ifeanyi Ndukwe. Encouraging for the long term, but not the profile Iraola wants to lean on if Liverpool are to challenge on multiple fronts.

That is where Barcola and Mbaye come in.

Barcola: the chosen heir

Inside the club, Barcola is viewed as the preferred successor to Salah on that right flank. French outlet RMC Sport report that Liverpool are preparing a new offer to PSG this week for the France international, with talks ongoing.

There is still a gap between what PSG want and what Liverpool are willing to pay. Even so, Liverpool are described as determined to keep pushing, convinced that Barcola is the right fit to lead a new-look frontline.

The tension between the clubs is financial, not strategic. Liverpool know the player they want. PSG know the value they believe he carries. The clock is ticking.

Mbaye deal gathers speed

While Barcola negotiations drag, the Mbaye move is starting to sprint.

The same report claims Liverpool’s separate pursuit of Mbaye is “progressing rapidly”, with discussions expected to accelerate after the 18-year-old agreed terms on a five-year contract running to 2031. That agreement on the player side represents a significant step.

Just as important, a major rival appears to have stepped aside. Bayer Leverkusen are now not expected to continue their chase for the winger, clearing a path for Liverpool to close in. Born in France but representing Senegal at international level, Mbaye is seen as one of the standout wide prospects of his age group.

For a recruitment team that has already skewed younger this summer, he fits the pattern perfectly.

Ominous PSG omission

Speculation around both Barcola and Mbaye surged at the weekend when neither made PSG’s squad for the French Super Cup defeat to Lens on Sunday. Not even a place on the bench.

In a window as febrile as this one, such an omission rarely goes unnoticed. It added fuel to the idea that exits are being prepared behind the scenes.

Luis Enrique, though, refused to be drawn. Asked about the pair after the loss, the PSG coach said: “I will only talk about the transfer window at the end of the transfer window, not before or after. When the transfer window is closed, I will talk about all the subjects.”

For now, the silence in Paris contrasts sharply with the noise on Merseyside. Liverpool have identified their targets, the clock is running, and the rebuild of Iraola’s attack is about to be defined by what happens with two wingers in the final days of August.