Liverpool's blockbuster move for Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo's future

Liverpool are on the brink of a blockbuster move for Bradley Barcola – and Cody Gakpo’s future suddenly looks wide open.

Fabrizio Romano has delivered his trademark “here we go” on the Paris Saint-Germain winger, confirming that Liverpool and PSG have reached an agreement in principle for the France international after weeks of negotiations.

Barcola deal: huge fee, huge statement

David Ornstein first revealed on Thursday morning that a fee had finally been agreed, with the transfer now in its final stages. Romano then went further, laying out the framework of a deal that underlines just how hard Liverpool have pushed to land their top target for the left flank.

“Bradley Barcola to Liverpool is ‘here we go’, deal agreed in principle between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain,” Romano said on his latest YouTube video, explaining that the clubs are now preparing, exchanging and checking documents with the lawyers.

Once that paperwork is complete, Barcola will be cleared to travel for his medical and to sign his contract at Anfield.

Liverpool have tracked Barcola for a long time and had originally earmarked him for summer 2025. That plan has been ripped up. The opportunity arrived now, and they have moved aggressively.

The numbers are huge. Romano reports a £100m guaranteed fee for PSG, with add-ons on top. Sources at the French club, he says, believe those bonuses can take the total package to around €140m. PSG are satisfied. Liverpool are delighted. Barcola, who wanted the move, gets the Premier League stage he craved.

It’s a deal that has cut through months of noise. At various points, reports in England and France insisted Barcola was not for sale, or that PSG would only listen to offers around €170m. Liverpool never walked away, and never believed that figure would stand.

Now the saga is effectively over. Barcola to Liverpool is happening. The only steps left are procedural.

Spotlight swings to Gakpo

One question immediately follows: what does this mean for Cody Gakpo?

The Dutchman has been at the centre of growing speculation this summer, with Tottenham and now Manchester City circling. Romano says both clubs are in “constant contact” to understand the player’s situation, and that Gakpo already has an agreement with Spurs, while his agents are also talking to City.

Liverpool, aware of that possibility, have not limited themselves to Barcola alone. They have explored options for a second winger in case Gakpo moves on, seeing bids rejected for Yankuba Minteh and making enquiries for Ismaila Sarr.

Romano is clear on the decision tree at Anfield: what Liverpool do next out wide hinges almost entirely on Gakpo.

“What happens now with Liverpool’s second winger after the bids for Minteh, Ismaila Sarr and all the rest? It really depends on what happens with Cody Gakpo,” he explained.

If Gakpo completes a move to Tottenham or Manchester City, Liverpool are ready to go back into the market for another wide forward. If he stays, the club are prepared to go into the season with Barcola added to the current attacking group.

So the picture is simple, but loaded with consequence. Barcola is coming. The next big call belongs to Gakpo – and to the clubs lining up to test Liverpool’s resolve on the Dutch winger.