Liverpool Handed Major Bradley Barcola Transfer Boost As PSG Close In On Akliouche Deal

As one LFC transfer target closes in on a move to PSG, are the dominoes falling into place, and has Liverpool just received a major boost in their search for a winger this summer? 

Liverpool's search for a winger has been well established, with the latest frontrunner to come to Anfield being PSG's Bradley Barcola.

It has been clear for many weeks that PSG have been searching for wide attacking reinforcements of their own this summer, and like Liverpool, they held a strong interest in RB Leipzig forward and Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande. 

But like Liverpool, they were also unable to agree a deal with RB Leipzig, despite the forward at one stage giving priority to PSG over LFC. This has since allowed Real Madrid to swoop in and steal a march in the race to sign the Bundesliga starlet, with a deal worth over €100 million. 

And while Liverpool look set to submit an official bid for Bradley Barcola, are PSG closing in on his potential replacement despite looking set to lose out on Yan Diomande?

PSG and Liverpool have both expressed an interest in another winger, French international Maghnes Akliouche. 

The winger, who plays predominantly on the right wing, currently plays for Ligue 1 side Monaco. He has had a couple of standout seasons with the French outfit, and this has attracted the interest of many clubs, with the top two being PSG and Liverpool. 

PSG have always been seen as the main destination for Akliouche, should the forward leave Monaco this summer; however, Liverpool did recently express an interest in Akliouche as a possible alternative should they not secure the signing of Bradley Barcola.

Whether or not this interest was genuine is unclear, but it may have been a ploy by Liverpool's recruitment team to give PSG the hurry-up to secure Akliouche as a signing.

If PSG sign the wingers they want, the chances of them being willing to come to the negotiating table and agree a sensible fee for Bradley Barcola significantly increase.

Furthermore, if those were LFC's intentions, then it seems to have worked. This is because Fabrizio Romano has reported today that PSG are closing in on a deal for Maghnes Akliouche, with final details being finalised before an official "here we go" from the Italian journalist. 

Now, if Liverpool's were genuinely looking into a deal for Maghnes Akliouche, this would be a big blow for them; however, if this was what LFC wanted PSG to do all along, to increase the chances of the Parisians allowing Bradley Barcola to leave, then it is exactly the news that The Reds will want to hear.

The hope will now be that when Liverpool submit their opening bid for Bradley Barcola, which they look set to do imminently, Paris Saint-Germain will come back and either accept it or suggest a reasonable renegotiation, preferably for Liverpool not close to the €140 million reported asking price, to allow LFC to secure their statement signing this summer.