Liverpool are on the verge of finalising a deal worth more than £100m for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, with a medical understood to be imminent once Paris Saint-Germain give their approval, according to French journalist François Plateau.
The 23-year-old France international has reportedly been eager to secure the switch to Anfield for several weeks, and personal terms between player and club have already been settled. The only outstanding matters are described as minor administrative details as Liverpool close in on what would be their third signing worth over £100m in just over twelve months.
Plateau's report suggests Barcola could receive the go-ahead from PSG as soon as Friday, allowing him to travel to Merseyside shortly afterwards to undergo his medical examination.
However, registration rules mean the winger will not feature for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest, irrespective of when the transfer is formally confirmed. To be eligible for that matchday squad, Barcola would need to be registered by 12pm on Friday, August 28 — a deadline that appears unlikely to be met given the timeline of the deal.
Instead, Liverpool's trip to Ipswich Town on Friday, September 4 has been pencilled in as the likely stage for Barcola's first appearance in a Liverpool shirt. By that point, the summer transfer window will have shut, giving the Frenchman time to train alongside his new teammates before making his bow.
A first appearance at Anfield could then follow in quick succession, with Liverpool set to host Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the Carabao Cup the following week — an occasion that could mark Barcola's home debut for the club.
Should the transfer go through, Barcola would become Liverpool's fourth summer addition, joining Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo, all three of whom already made their first appearances for the club during Sunday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United.
Liverpool's recruitment activity, though, does not appear to be finished. The Merseyside club are continuing their search for additional attacking reinforcements before the transfer deadline passes, having already seen bids rejected for both Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr in recent weeks.
Another name reportedly on Liverpool's radar is Ibrahim Mbaye, a fellow PSG forward who is said to be under consideration as the club assess their remaining options in the closing days of the window. It remains unclear whether Liverpool will move forward with a formal approach for Mbaye.
Meanwhile, the arrival of another wide attacking player at Anfield could have knock-on effects elsewhere in the squad. Cody Gakpo has been strongly linked with a departure to Tottenham Hotspur, who are reportedly prepared to offer around £75m to sign the Dutch international, potentially opening the door for further squad reshuffling before deadline day.
With Barcola's move edging closer to completion, attention now turns to how quickly Liverpool can finalise the paperwork and whether further late business could follow before the transfer window closes.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.