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Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are described as confident of reaching an agreement for Bradley Barcola despite around £26 million separating them. Informal talks are taking place when it comes to a proposed move for Barcola, who is open to leaving PSG after entering the final two years of his contract. PSG’s valuation of the 23-year-old is “proving problematic,” according to the Times‘ Paul Joyce, but a more encouraging update has arrived from L’Equipe. Journalist Loic Tanzi writes that “the various parties involved remain confident that a transfer can be finalised” despite an initial verbal offer of €100 million (£85.8m) being dismissed. Liverpool are prepared to pay up to €120 million (£102.9m) but PSG are seeking a deal worth closer to €150 million (£128.6m). 3 factors that could help Liverpool’s Barcola deal But though there is a distance of around £26 million between the two clubs’ valuations, a number of factors could push the deal closer to completion in the coming weeks. Barcola’s agent, Moussa Sissoko, is “adept at bridging seemingly irreconcilable positions,” and while this may mean an agreement is delayed until late in the transfer window, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is due to enter talks with Liverpool’s hierarchy. Al-Khelaifi holds a positive relationship with the board at Fenway Sports Group and it is noted that Liverpool and PSG share a minority stakeholder in private equity firm Arctos, which could “facilitate dialogue.” The transfer window closes for Ligue 1 clubs on August 31 but remains open in the Premier League until 11pm on September 1. That gives Liverpool and PSG just under a month to strike an agreement, though Andoni Iraola will be eager to add Barcola to his squad as soon as possible. For his part, Barcola is said to have already agreed terms on a contract with Liverpool, though nothing can be signed until his move is authorised by those at the Parc des Princes. Liverpool want to sign both Barcola AND Mbaye Liverpool are also exploring a move for fellow PSG winger Ibrahim Mbaye, with any pursuit of the 18-year-old considered separate to their attempts to sign Barcola. Mbaye is expected to be available for between €40 million (£34.3m) and €50 million (£42.9m) and there would be no issue in adding both players to the squad despite only one non-homegrown slot being open at this stage. There would be no need to register Mbaye as a senior player in the Premier League until the 2029/30 season, by which point he would qualify as homegrown.