Bradley Barcola to Liverpool transfer truth after Reds 'agreement' and £145m decision

Liverpool have made Bradley Barcola their No.1 transfer priority this summer window - but are yet to open formal talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a deal. Barcola, who is believed to be valued by PSG at £145m, is top of the Anfield club's shortlist as they seek reinforcements in wide areas following Mohamed Salah's departure.

The French international is claimed to have told last season's Champions League winners that he does not wish to extend his deal with the club. L'Equipe reported on Tuesday that the former Lyon star has reached an agreement in principle with the Reds after holding talks with Andoni Iraola.

The Liverpool ECHO, though, is reporting that Liverpool are yet to hold direct talks with PSG over a deal after earmarking Barcola as their No.1 priority this summer. PSG had been looking to engineer a deal worth over £100m for RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, which might have softened their stance on Barcola.

However, Ivory Coast international Diomande is now expected to join Real Madrid after interest from the Spanish capital emerged last week in the 19-year-old, who had also been of interest at Anfield. Any deal for the skillful Barcola is expected to cost the Reds north of £100m.

Andoni Iraola replaced the sacked Arne Slot last month, and the Reds have already signed Spanish winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna in a £34.5m deal, beating Newcastle United in the process. But speaking at his first press conference as Liverpool's new head coach, Iraola, admitted that his side needed more players.

He said: "Obviously we've signed two players already but we need more players - we know this. The club is working on this.

"Me as a coach, selfishly, you want the players here [on] day one, ready to train from the pre-season, but we understand that football doesn't work like this. I know the club is working hard to get those signings and I'm trying obviously to help also."

While speaking at a press conference in Chicago last week, Iraola said: "You have to be always open to new options to improve the squad. There are obvious situations where we need to sign players.

"A winger for example, we definitely need to sign a winger, but there are other situations where we will have to analyse what the market gives you, what is the cost, how we also see the players we have."