Liverpool miss out on Chelsea transfer for £75m star as Bradley Barcola deal has consequences

Liverpool have reportedly failed in a bid to bring Chelsea defender Malo Gusto on loan to Anfield, despite the Blues being willing to let the Frenchman leave.

So far this summer, Liverpool have gone big on winger Bradley Barcola, bringing in the Paris Saint-Germain star in a deal worth up to £123million.

Following the exit of centre-back Ibrahima Konate, the Reds signed rising star Jeremy Jacquet for around £54m, while wideman Victor Munoz was snapped up for approximately £34m.

But other than defender Ronald Araujo joining on loan from Barcelona, this has, arguably, been a puzzling window for the Merseyside outfit.

Jamie Carragher has raised concerns about Liverpool‘s midfield not being defensively solid enough, and Gary Neville was surprised Andoni Iraola‘s team, and his beloved Manchester United, didn’t do more to shore up their defences.

He said over the weekend, “I’m amazed that United haven’t added at the back. I’m amazed that Liverpool haven’t added two full-backs because they need two full-backs.

“Arsenal are strengthening when they’re absolutely at the top. Manchester United and Liverpool aren’t in that position. So I’m surprised at the windows these two great clubs have had.”

Former Bournemouth boss Iraola has also made it clear that he wants more recruits before the 11pm deadline on 1 September.

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Last week, the Spaniard admitted, “The word is ‘ideally’, ideally is the magic word. In the end there are certain things that you can do, certain things that we don’t know if we can do.

“But it’s true that the priority has been to strengthen in the wide areas. Still we have four, five days, I’m sure if we can improve other areas, we will. But I don’t know how the market is going to finish. I cannot tell you, I have to be patient the same as you.

“I want to know, believe me it’s very uncomfortable for me. You are dealing with uncertainties all the time. But we have to wait four, five days, and then we will know what we have and make proper plans.”

Liverpool miss out on Malo Gusto

Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez are Liverpool’s current full-back options but both are arguably better in attack rather than defence.

Reports suggest they looked to strengthen this area of the pitch but it seems they may have to watch their finances as loan deals are being considered.

Indeed, according to Fabrice Hawkins, Liverpool tried to sign Chelsea full-back Gusto on loan on deadline day.

The 23-year-old signed for the Blues from Lyon in 2023 for a fee worth up to £30m. Back in late June, Fabrizio Romano claimed that the Stamford Bridge outfit valued Gusto at a whopping £75m.

Hawkins adds that Chelsea were actually ‘pushing’ for a permanent exit for the France international, whose contract runs until 2030.

But Liverpool do not have the ‘financial means’ to do that and would only consider a loan with no mandatory buy clause.

It seems the Barcola deal, on top of their £400m+ spend last summer, is having consequences for FSG’s finances.

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