The Barcola deal: how Liverpool got their man on their own terms

It has taken the best part of a summer, but Liverpool appear to have landed Bradley Barcola, and crucially, they have landed him at a price that reflects some serious negotiating muscle. The overall package is reported to come in at £106m guaranteed, with a further £17m in potential add-ons, a figure that, while still eye-watering, represents a full £22m saving on the £145m PSG originally demanded when talks first began.

That reduction did not happen by accident. PSG's own business elsewhere this summer gradually weakened their hand, and Liverpool were patient enough to let that play out. The winger is now understood to be undergoing his medical over the weekend, which means the formalities are well advanced. For a club that has moved slowly in this window, getting the price down to this level before the medical stage is no small thing.

There will be debate, perfectly reasonable debate, about whether Barcola has done enough in his career to command fees in this territory at all. He ranked behind Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue in the PSG pecking order, and Luis Enrique has since added Mika Godts and Maghnes Akliouche to his attacking ranks. That context explains why PSG were willing to sell. Whether it vindicates the outlay is a conversation that will run for years, and ultimately only the player himself can settle it.

A second Newcastle heartbreak could be on the cards

Barcola is not the only name generating noise with fewer than 48 hours left before Tuesday's deadline. Liverpool are now being linked with a move for Lille forward Matias Fernandez Pardo, a 21-year-old who has already been on the Reds' radar throughout the summer. TEAMtalk reports that Liverpool have opened talks with Lille over a late approach for a player the French club value at around £60m.

The timing has a familiar sting for Newcastle. Liverpool already snatched Victor Munoz from under their noses earlier in this window, and now they could be about to repeat the trick. The Telegraph had reported that Newcastle were stepping up their efforts to sign Fernandez Pardo, only for Liverpool to reportedly enter the race with concrete talks. Whether Andoni Iraola's side can get a deal over the line in the time remaining is another matter, but the intent appears to be there.

Fernandez Pardo has predominantly played as a striker for Lille, though he is comfortable on either flank. That versatility, combined with a profile reportedly comparable to Cody Gakpo's, makes him an interesting fit, and could become highly relevant should Gakpo depart at some point. Manchester City and Tottenham are also said to be interested, so Liverpool will need to move sharply if this one is going to happen.

What the window tells us about where Liverpool actually are

Zoom out for a moment and the picture is a curious one. Iraola's side have been widely criticised for moving slowly this summer, with genuine concerns remaining around defensive cover and the longer-term question of who succeeds Mohamed Salah. Yet the bulk of the activity being discussed in these final hours is attacking in nature, which suggests the club's priorities and the supporters' priorities are not entirely aligned.

That said, landing Barcola at a £22m discount, and potentially adding Fernandez Pardo before the window closes, would represent a more productive conclusion to a frustrating summer than many feared a few weeks ago. The board clearly has an eye on value even when the numbers involved are enormous, and supporters at least have reason to believe recruitment decisions are being made with some financial discipline.

Tuesday's deadline is going to be a long day on Merseyside, and it might be a very bad one for Newcastle.