Liverpool are now said to be stepping up their efforts to land the elite attacker they are on the lookout for this summer. Andoni Iraola wants attacking football and bold wing-play at Anfield, as he has throughout much of his managerial career, and he needs the tools to do it.

Liverpool lost Mo Salah this summer, and while they have added to their wide ranks this summer, they need a truly elite and ready-to-go winger who they can plug and play going into the new season. But such attackers do not come cheap, and they are typically not easy to find or secure.

The Reds are prepared to pay big to land their man, but their main target could be about to test just how far they are willing to go in spending a huge sum of money.

Liverpool preparing to make Bradley Barcola offer

Reuters/Sam Navarro

Liverpool have made Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola their priority target, with the winger well on his way to being a superstar. But his path to being a superstar, he likely feels, is blocked by Khvitxa Kvaratskhèlia, who is likely the best in the world in his position currently.

Barcola has still played plenty, coming on for Kvaratskhèlia, while his versatility has also allowed him to play in other positions. But at 23 years of age, and having proven his ability at the World Cup, as well as during the club season, Barcola is ready to play a starring role, and he has reportedly rejected a new PSG contract in his bid to land one.

There have been reports that Liverpool are willing to pay as much as £100million to land Barcola this summer, but PSG are said to be asking for as much as £145million, with their value based on some of the other huge fees paid this summer, especially in the Premier League.

But reliable Liverpool source David Lynch is optimistic about a deal as far as the Reds are concerned. “I think people think everything’s a brief, but I think in this situation, I think it’s fair to say that was a brief from Liverpool,” Lynch explained on an Anfield Index podcast.

“Clearly, I think you can take that as a given now they are progressing towards making a bid for Barcola.”

On the potential of the deal being advanced already, Lynch added: “He may even be in already really, they’ve been working on this for a long time.”

He continued: “There’ll probably be some rejected bids, you’ll probably hear some contradictory reporting… I would just say kind of be calm around this one. I think I said in the last pod that I was quite confident this one will happen.”

Barcola wants to play a starring role, and Liverpool can offer it

Liverpool needing to replace Salah has come at a perfect time for Barcola in his search for a starring role at a top club this summer. That’s something Lynch went on to highlight, adding: “So many of the ingredients are there to make this deal happen. The player wants it to happen as I understand it. Liverpool are clearly very highly sold on the player and want to get him. He’s got two years left on his contract. So PSG are really kind of taking a risk if they hold out for the higher end of their fee and they’ve got business themselves that they want to do.

“All the ingredients are there really for a compromise fee to be reached and for Liverpool to get it done with the player. So I still retain confidence.

“They’re (PSG) clearly preparing, aren’t they, for life without Barcola because he wants to go, as I understand it. He wants to be the main man somewhere. He wants to play more frequently. He doesn’t want to be left out when he gets to a Champions League final and be on the bench. Liverpool, by all accounts, are kind of offering that to him.”​​

CONCACAF has joined UEFA in rejecting Gianni Infantino’s plans to sell a minority stake in the FIFA World Cup and insisted the sport’s future must remain in the hands of our football family.

Gianni Infantino had set a deadline for FIFA’s 211 member associations to decide whether to back his proposal to sell stakes in the international tournament. The FIFA President sent a letter to those associations as part of a new commercial entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

UEFA released a statement slamming the idea and said that Infantino had “crossed a line.” European nations have since held a meeting and confirmed their intentions to boycott any FIFA competitions if the plans proceed.

CONCACAF Reject Infantino’s World Cup Proposal

REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Infantino asked the football associations to respond to his plans by September 19th. It hasn’t taken long for UEFA and now CONCACAF to inform him that they oppose his idea.

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) released a statement and told Infantino that all of their 41 countries “reject” the sell-off plan:

“Concacaf is a confederation united by the love of our game, where football comes first. Guided by this philosophy over the past ten years we have built, from the ground up, an organization founded on service, transparent governance, and the long-term stewardship of football.

“History has shown FIFA and the football family what happens when the custodians of the game lose sight of these values. “With this in mind, Concacaf today convened a meeting of the presidents of its 41 Member Associations, together with its President, Council members, and its FIFA Council members, to discuss a proposal developed and presented by the FIFA President to establish ‘FIFA Forward Enterprise’ and sell interests in the FIFA World Cup to private investors.”

They added: “During the meeting, the membership expressed deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies. In addition, the need for private equity investment to fund new and existing FIFA Forward programs following the most profitable FIFA World Cup in history was questioned.

“The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance. For these reasons, Concacaf and its 41 Member Associations have: Rejected the proposal, tasked their FIFA Council Members with engaging FIFA to determine how existing FIFA reserves could be used to increase FIFA Forward funding for football development across our region; and tasked their FIFA Council Members with instructing the FIFA President to ensure that any matter follows the proper governance processes via staff and FIFA Council, in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.”

The sporting body concluded: “Through these actions, Concacaf reaffirms that football’s future—and its greatest asset—must remain in the hands of our football family.”

CONCACAF’s 41 member associations include the World Cup co-hosts USA, Canada and Mexico. It’s hugely significant as FIFA were working with American banking institution JPMorgan to raise $4.2 billion from private investors.

US President Donald Trump’s administration had reportedly been approached about the deal. FIFA often relies on confederations outside of Europe and South America for voting and CONCACAF’s rejection indicates that backlash over Infantino’s plans are global rather than a UEFA grievance.

Liverpool are now said to be planning to spend huge money on their statement winger signing. The Reds have had a pretty quiet summer so far, snapping up Victor Muñoz, while they had already agreed to sign Jeremy Jacquet to replace Ibrahima Konate, who departed at the end of his contract.

But Andoni Iraola is going to want a handful of signings to polish off his squad and ensure he has the tools he needs to play within his attack-first, largely wing-based style of play. And as luck would have if for the Spaniard, Mo Salah left this summer, leaving an almighty hole on the wing.

Liverpool are expected to address that hole as their main priority, while they could also add to the midfield before the summer is out.

Liverpool ready to spend big on new winger

Reuters/Sam Navarro

PSG winger Bradley Barcola has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield this summer. The France World Cup star is said to have rejected a new contract proposal from PSG this summer, hoping to depart Parc des Princes to become a star elsewhere.

Barcola has played an important role in Luis Enrique’s side, winning two Champions League titles along the way, but the presence of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia means a starting role on the left is not going to come any time soon. Barcola has played a supplementary role on the left, and he has had to play out of position to get more regular football.

But at 23 years of age and clearly a huge talent, he feels as though he can play a starring role elsewhere, and he is likely right. Liverpool are hoping to take advantage of the situation, and The Times say they are ready to pay £100million in a bid to make the deal happen.

But PSG value Barcola highly, and buoyed by the huge fees paid within the Premier League this summer, notably by Chelsea for Morgan Rogers and Manchester City for Elliot Anderson, they think Barcola is worth as much as £145million.

Liverpool will want to convince them to lower their fee, and Barcola can help by further pushing for a move, but it’s no secret that PSG do not need the money, and they can be a tough club to negotiate with for that reason.

Barcola an ‘elite’ attacker

REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

PSG boss Luis Enrique is a big fan of Barcola’s, which explains why the French club offered the winger a new deal this summer. The former Spain boss said last year: “I think Barcola is one of the best dribblers in Europe. He has extraordinary qualities. We are delighted with him.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool reporter James Pearce has described Barcola as an ‘elite’ talent, saying: “Victor Munoz, earlier on in the window, was kind of with one eye on the future. He’s still kind of potential rather than the finished article. Barcola is elite, isn’t he? He’s been part of such a successful PSG team, and when you’re replacing someone of Salah’s status, it has to be someone who is ready.”