Journalist ‘daren’t say’ Ibrahim Mbaye price as Liverpool discuss two alternatives

A trusted French reporter has refused to say the price Paris Saint-Germain are demanding for Ibrahim Mbaye, with Liverpool leaning towards signing Bradley Barcola and Yankuba Minteh instead.

Mbaye and Barcola are both looking to leave PSG after the Champions League holders added Maghnes Akliouche and Mika Godts to their stacked forward line. Liverpool have opened talks with PSG for Mbaye and Barcola, while also agreeing personal terms with the duo.

PSG want £43-50m to sell Mbaye, whereas Liverpool believe he is actually worth closer to £30m.

PSG initially set Barcola’s price tag at £145m before dropping their valuation to £125m. Liverpool, meanwhile, have offered €115m (£98m) for the French star and are willing to increase their bid to around £120m.

During an appearance on the After Foot podcast, reliable RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins was asked about Liverpool’s talks for Mbaye.

He replied: “I don’t dare say the price being asked by Paris Saint-Germain, firstly because I haven’t had confirmation, and when I do get confirmation, I will write it.

“Ibrahim Mbaye has a contractual agreement with Liverpool. What’s really going to be a problem is the agreement between clubs because LFC are already negotiating for Barcola, who is their top priority, they really want to make it happen and I said, I think it’s going to go through.

“That’s the feeling amongst everyone in the deal. Secondly, there’s Ibrahim Mbaye, but PSG are asking for a substantial fee, and at the moment Liverpool aren’t ready to accept that.

“Whilst they’re sitting down negotiating with Barcola, they’re saying ‘we will negotiate, we will find common ground’. For Ibrahim Mbaye, it’s a little bit more problematic, but negotiations are still ongoing.”

Hawkins also spoke about Barcola’s prospective move to Anfield.

“Bradley Barcola wants to join Liverpool. PSG were informed earlier of his desire, and it was accepted,” he added.

“There’s no intention to keep Bradley Barcola. The sticking point has been the valuation, where they started at €170m.

Next Liverpool bid for Barcola could succeed – Hawkins

“Liverpool have made different verbal offers. They’ve made offers since the verbal one, but there hasn’t been a written offer yet because, at this level, I think the next written offer will be the one that gets it done.

“We’ve understood that it would be somewhere between €130m and €150m, but in any case, it won’t be below €120m for Bradley Barcola. Everyone involved in this deal thinks there will be an agreement.”

According to Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail, Liverpool have decided to prioritise a move for Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh over Mbaye.

Liverpool failed with a £50m bid for Minteh and are preparing to submit a new offer.

We confirmed on Thursday that Barcola remains Liverpool’s top winger target even amid talks for Minteh.

As things stand, Liverpool would ideally like to sign both Barcola and Minteh to transform their winger ranks.

Meanwhile, we can reveal Liverpool’s decision on whether to sign a new midfielder to replace Curtis Jones.