Liverpool fans will be rather intrigued by comments from Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique about Bradley Barcola on Saturday.
The winger has been the Reds’ primary transfer target in recent weeks, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the two clubs are in talks on a daily basis over a potential move to Anfield for the France international.
The 23-year-old is understood to have agreed personal terms with Andoni Iraola’s side, who could viably land the player if they were to offer £125m to PSG, according to Alex Crook for talkSPORT.
Enrique not prepared to entertain unhappy players at PSG
Enrique spoke to the media today ahead of his team’s Trophée des Champions fixture against Lens on Sunday, and in response to a question about potential sales at the Parc des Princes, he seemed to hint that Barcola could be one of the players sacrificed.
The head coach said (via Liverpool Echo): “We are a very young, very ambitious team. It is important for us to make changes and look for players who enjoy playing our way and who love playing for PSG.
“When a player doesn’t want to come here, or doesn’t have a smile on their face about being here, it is better to find another solution.”
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Is Barcola nearing the end at PSG?
Although Enrique didn’t reference Barcola by name, the PSG boss did state in late July (via The Athletic) that he ‘only wants committed players’ in his squad, and it’s an open secret that the winger is keen on a potential move to Liverpool.
That the 23-year-old was an unused substitute in his team’s UEFA Super Cup win over Aston Villa in midweek seemed telling, and speculation was further fuelled by the sight of him warmly embracing sporting director Luis Campos after the game in Salzburg.
Was that a goodbye gesture from the forward? Maybe, maybe not, but it could easily be interpreted as a pointed reaction in the context of the deafening discourse surrounding his future.
If Enrique is indeed subtly yet publicly telling Barcola that he isn’t prepared to entertain any player being unhappy at PSG or bringing down morale in the dressing room, that could well suggest that the head coach would be ready to cash in on the France international.
There’s a growing sense that the European champions are braced for the 23-year-old to leave the Parc des Princes, and the direction of travel seems to be increasingly pointing towards an eventual transfer to Liverpool.