Liverpool in discussions to sign £87m winger

One factor’s for sure: Liverpool are primed for an eventful finish to the summer season switch window.

FSG are diligent operators, with Anfield’s switch technique pushed by two of the very best within the enterprise in Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes, and this was clear by the swift signings of full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, and the British-record signing of playmaker Florian Wirtz, which was wrapped up in June.

Nevertheless, the pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has been something however expeditious, with the Reds having seen a British-record bid value £110m plus add-ons rejected in the beginning of August, following weeks of intense hypothesis and suggestion that the Sweden worldwide needs to maneuver to Anfield.

Now, it is getting messy. The 25-year-old is aggrieved about the way in which his and Newcastle’s switch window has transpired, and is insistent that he has performed his remaining match for the Magpies.

Liverpool want one other striker, having bought Darwin Nunez to Al Hilal in a deal rising to £57m after parting methods with Luis Diaz, now garbed in Bayern Munich’s package.

However did Liverpool’s Group Protect defeat towards Crystal Palace make a touch upon Arne Slot’s attacking line?

Final month, Liverpool signed Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike for a £79m charge, including one of the crucial gifted forwards in Europe to Slot’s squad.

Isak’s future broods within the background, however the French ahead stepped up and scored through the Group Protect at Wembley, expertly changing following Wirtz’s fizzed go simply 4 minutes into his debut.

The 23-year-old instructed Liverpool and the fanbase that he is able to turn into a serious participant at Anfield and within the Premier League, bearing the potential to rival the likes of Isak for a spot as one in all Europe’s prime strikers.

Although defensive fragility and thinness have been clear towards the Eagles, the Merseysiders additionally lack depth up prime. And although Ekitike is the true deal, it is crucial that Hughes and co welcome one other ahead to Liverpool’s combine this month.

Liverpool lining up Isak different

Liverpool need Isak, however they’re able to pounce on different attacking targets ought to the necessity come up. And based on switch specialist Fabrizio Romano, Bradley Barcola sits proper on the prime of the shortlist.

Discussing the Premier League champions’ excellent switch plans this summer season with GIVEMESPORT, Romano confirmed that inner discussions have been held behind the scenes over a transfer for Barcola, 22, who has emerged as a celebrity at PSG.

Instrumental in driving Luis Enrique’s quadruple-winning 2024/25 marketing campaign, the France worldwide has been valued at round €100m (equating to round £87m) by the French giants, who hope to tie Barcola right down to a protracted and profitable new contract in Paris.

The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe has instructed Liverpool might transfer to signal a left-sided ahead together with a 9 equivalent to Isak, and with that in thoughts, might the Reds not pull off a surprising double swoop?

Why Liverpool need Bradley Barcola

Barcola has flaws in his sport; he is definitely not the completed product. However how thrilling is that? The French winger, in spite of everything, posted 21 objectives and 21 assists apiece throughout all competitions for PSG final season, profitable 4 main titles, together with the Champions League.

Already thought-about to be a “world-class participant” by Liverpool and Romano, Barcola’s tempo and efficiency down the left flank recommend he might be the right Diaz substitute and distinction to the extra goal-focused Cody Gakpo. Whereas the Frenchman stands out as the Swede’s different for the time being, we will envisage a staff the place they co-exist.

Isak is a striker of startling completeness, and that is why he might work so fluently with Barcola, whose grasp of the technical facet of the sport would work nicely alongside the Scandinavian expertise’s goalscoring qualities.

Final season, it was clear that Eddie Howe diminished the scope of Isak’s sport, thus streamlining his prolific capability and giving rise to his standout power.

Even so, Isak nonetheless loved loads of inventive moments, with that reality additional substantiated by his rating among the many prime 16% of positional friends throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous yr for shot-creating actions and the highest 13% for progressive passes per 90, through FBref.

Slot loves gamers who can do a number of issues, and so Isak’s function at quantity 9 would include the ancillary responsibility of supplying teammates.

This may be useful for Barcola, who loved a lot success in entrance of purpose final yr, albeit not producing true medical outcomes. Certainly, throughout PSG’s league and European campaigns, the £109k-per-week expertise might need scored 17 objectives, however he additionally missed 33 large probabilities, highlighting ample room for enchancment there.

Fortunately, he is obtained a knack for locating house and capturing, and his 21-goal return final yr is hardly one thing to be sniffed at.

With nice ball-carrying capability, inventive focus and the potential to turn into a really lethal goalscorer, Barcola is definitely the right companion for a striker like Isak, whose intelligence and off-the-ball motion would accommodate the France star when he needs the headlines.

And when Barcola is the one tasked with supplying Isak? Effectively, count on a seamless connection, placing concern into the remainder of the Premier League and certainly Europe.