Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Liverpool may need to spend the best part of £170m if they’re to pull off a show-stopping double transfer heist this month.
At present, all eyes are on the future of Bradley Barcola to see if the Reds will finally land the Paris Saint-Germain attacker, with intrigue growing after PSG chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi refused to rule out the possibility of an exit after the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday night.
The Merseysiders have also been linked with a move for his Parc des Princes teammate Ibrahim Mbaye, who’s understood to be tempted by a potential switch to Andoni Iraola’s side.
Romano issues Ibrahim Mbaye transfer update
In an update on his eponymous YouTube channel in the early hours of Thursday morning, Romano outlined that Liverpool mightn’t pursue the younger of the two PSG forwards much further due to the cost which’d be involved.
He stated: “Liverpool spoke with the agent of [Mbaye] for several days, but my information is that as of today, Paris Saint-Germain believe that signing Barcola and Mbaye means basically spending almost €200m. It would be a crazy package to spend on two players.
“At the moment, my understanding is that Liverpool’s plan is to sign two wingers by the end of the window, especially if Cody Gakpo goes to Tottenham, because there is a possibility to see Gakpo going to Tottenham.
“If Gakpo goes to Tottenham and Liverpool sign Barcola, there is space for one more winger. Liverpool could sign two wingers from now to the end of the window, if Cody Gakpo goes to Tottenham. That’s the point.
“On Ibrahim Mbaye, Liverpool spoke with Jorge Mendes, the agent of the player, but at the moment the price named by PSG for Ibrahim Mbaye is considered too expensive. That’s why the Mbaye situation remains not clear yet.”
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Liverpool seem happy to sacrifice Mbaye pursuit and go all-in on Barcola
The prices quoted for the two attackers vary between sources, but reports suggest that Barcola would account for roughly 80% of the €200m (£170.9m) figure quoted by Romano.
If Liverpool therefore consider Mbaye ‘too expensive’ despite being estimated to cost just a quarter of his elder PSG teammate, it suggests that the Reds are all-in on the France international for the time being.
That could change if Gakpo were to leave Anfield for Spurs and the Merseysiders are intent on bringing in two more wingers rather than one, although LFC are seemingly determined to keep hold of the Dutchman.
Also, whereas Mbaye is a precocious teenager with a ‘bright future ahead of him‘ (in the words of Sadio Mane), Barcola has already proven himself on the European stage with PSG over the last two seasons in particular as they hoovered up back-to-back Champions League triumphs.
Liverpool seem more intent than ever to bring in an elite wide attacker in the Frenchman, whose openness to the move – coupled with his club potentially being amenable to his departure for the right price – raises the possibility of a deal finally getting done in the final weeks of the transfer window.