Liverpool latest: New signing ‘out for the season’ as Barcola makes major statement on transfer
Liverpool are still in the market for a new forward this summer and PSG’s Bradley Barcola remains a top target
Liverpool’s first summer under Andoni Iraola has been a stop-start affair in the transfer market but there are signs the pace of business is about to pick up. One of the most closely watched storylines of the window centres on Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, with developments over the past 48 hours throwing the situation into a new light.
With Mohamed Salah having left Anfield sooner than many expected, finding a worthy successor remains the club’s most pressing priority. The £34million capture of Victor Munoz from Osasuna offers some cover, but few at the club believe the squad is where it needs to be heading into the new campaign.
Elsewhere, the mood is tempered by the news that one summer arrival has been told he will play no part for the club this season. As Liverpool continue their pre-season preparations in the United States, the ECHO breaks down the latest goings-on in the transfer market.
Ndukwe can’t play for Liverpool
Having already been dealt a blow by Joe Gomez’s latest pre-season injury, Liverpool’s defensive options have taken yet another hit. Reports have confirmed summer signing Ifeanyi Ndukwe will be unavailable to feature for Iraola this campaign.
The 18-year-old’s £2.6m switch from Austria Wien was confirmed in January but did not officially complete until July. However, it may not be long before Ndukwe is heading back out of the door as he is prohibited from representing the Reds.
It has been confirmed Ndukwe failed to meet the threshold required to secure a work permit in the UK. Consequently, a loan move elsewhere appears virtually certain for the teenager, enabling him to gain the requisite experience and become a realistic option in the near future.
The development proves particularly damaging given Gomez’s injury, with fellow new signing Jeremy Jacquet yet to make his debut and youngster Giovanni Leoni still recovering from a serious knee injury. The news also follows Ibrahima Konate’s free transfer to Real Madrid as Iraola seeks to reshape Liverpool’s backline this summer.
Barcola ‘won’t force PSG exit’
Despite the prospect of a Premier League move, France winger Barcola appears unwilling to rock the boat at PSG. It emerged on Sunday the 23-year-old has informed his current employers he has no intention of putting pen to paper on a new deal at the Parc des Princes.
That stance seemingly extends beyond this summer, having already rebuffed PSG’s most recent approach over fresh contract negotiations. The current situation piles pressure on his club to seriously contemplate a sale if they are to secure maximum value for their asset.
Le Parisien has reported that Barcola “will not force a move” from his home of the past three years. Beyond that, it remains unclear whether he is even keen on departing this summer, only that he has no desire to extend his existing contract.
It is also claimed Barcola has already rebuffed an approach from Chelsea earlier this summer. That development could equally work in the Reds’ favour, potentially suggesting the winger has a particular destination in mind.
In some respects, Liverpool can only admire the player’s determination if Le Parisien’s claims hold true. All too frequently, players are seen to simply down tools in order to engineer their desired transfer.
This may well complicate matters for Liverpool, as one of their preferred candidates to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah could prove considerably harder to bring in. Nevertheless, it indicates the former Lyon youngster is a man of principle, seemingly unwilling to resort to underhanded tactics to secure a move.
