Liverpool Enter Crucial Stage In Bradley Barcola Saga, As Ibrahim Mbaye Deal Looks Increasingly Difficult

The Reds pursuit of PSG duo Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola may have just been given it's biggest boost yet, as talks are reportedly set to accelerate in the coming days for at least one of them. 

Liverpool's long drawn out saga with Bradley Barcola was one that the club will have wanted to avoid when first approaching PSG for the French forward, but due to a lack of alternatives and waiting upon PSG to sign all the attacking reinforcement they needed to be able to sanction the sale of Barcola, this is a transfer target that has taken longer than anticipated to obtain.

However, if recent reports are to be believed PSG may have completed their transfer business now with their latest signing of Mika Godts from Ajax, meaning this is when LFC needs to strike a deal. 

Confidence was only further enhanced when it was confirmed last night both Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye were not in the match day squad for PSG, despite being in the initial 23 man squad that travelled to Lens for the French Super Cup. 

Luis Enrique was quizzed on Barcola and Mbaye's absence from the PSG squad, and he was tight lipped over the reason why they were not involved:

This comes amid reports that Luis Enrique has told the PSG hierarchy that he is open to Bradley Barcola departing the club this summer.

So it has been reported by a number of top journalists, most notably Fabrizio Romano that a deal for Bradley Barcola is still very much on. He goes on to say that the Reds are confident that a deal can be made between the two clubs and that LFC can get their man.

This was then backed up by Fabrice Hawkins who reported that both Barcola and Mbaye are set to leave PSG this summer, with Liverpool still wanting to recruit the pair of them. and negotiations set to continue this week.

With every top journalist saying that Barcola to LFC is still very much on this summer, Ibrahim Mbaye to LFC is one that nobody seems just as confident about. 

Liverpool expressed an interest in the Senegal international earlier in the transfer window, and Ibrahim Mbaye himself would love a move to Anfield after he and his agent Jorge Mendes have held talks with the Reds.

But it would appear that PSG's asking price is too high for Liverpool to be able to sanction a move for the 18 year old.

According to Fabrizio Romano, PSG are demanding in excess of €200 million (£171 million) for both Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye combined, a number LFC are unwilling to meet. 

So for a transfer from PSG to Liverpool to happen for Mbaye, PSG would need to lower their demands for the player, otherwise it is a move that Liverpool simply can't entertain.

However, with possible outgoings expected at LFC in the closing weeks of this window, could the sale of the likes of Cody Gakpo help Liverpool fund a double swoop for the Parisian duo, and end this transfer window with one of the most exciting set of attacking options in world football?