One of the longest transfer sagas of this summer, not just when it comes to PSG but the entire transfer window, has been Bradley Barcola and the links to Premier League outfit Liverpool.
The winger was involved in the UEFA Super Cup win against Aston Villa, but was not in the match day squad for either of the subsequent games against RC Lens in the Trophee des Champions, and Rennes on the opening day of Ligue 1, leading to more and more speculation.
Well, it looks as if we have finally got somewhere with just a few days left of the window. Indeed so, as it is being reported by various sources, including David Ornstein of The Athletic, that an agreement has been reached in principle between PSG and Liverpool for the transfer of Barcola.
He states that there was an overnight breakthrough in negotiations, for a package above 135 million Euros, or 116 million pounds, with the fixed fee around 116 million Euros, or 100 million pounds.
Wow. Quite an outlay. Although there is no doubt that Barcola is a very, very talented player with enormous potential as one of the best players in the world, it cannot be denied that this is a good fee for PSG.
Whatever he ends up doing with Liverpool, to get that sort of fee for someone who wants to leave and is not a starter in PSG's best team (these two things go hand in hand to an extent you'd imagine) is very good. Some will point to the fact Luis Enrique says nobody is a guaranteed starter, and whilst that may be true, it is clear that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is his preferred option on the left hand side of the attack.
It seems like it is the big games in particular that have frustrated Barcola. For example, the 23-year old has started 26 UEFA Champions League games in the past two seasons, yet was a substitute in both finals, something that has been mentioned as a frustration for him.
With Mika Godts, PSG moved in a very proactive manner to bring his replacement as cover for Kvaratskhelia in. Likewise Maghnes Akliouche came in to replace Kang-in Lee, and Ferran Torres to replace Goncalo Ramos (although not quite as proactively due to the FIFA World Cup).
To be picky, if Ibrahim Mbaye also departs the club, it feels like the team could do with another profile of winger. With the options of Kvaratskhelia, Godts, Akliouche and Desire Doue on the wings, it feels very ball to feet heavy. They could do with another option to stretch defences in behind, particularly in European games. But let's see.
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