Lewis Steele says that the Reds are still in talks with PSG for Barcola, while they’re considering a third bid for Brighton’s Minteh.
In a report for the Daily Mail, Steele said: “Liverpool remain hopeful of signing Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola this week and are weighing up whether to make a third bid for Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh. Those will be crucial additions, given the wide options are limited at present, but signing a deep-lying midfielder is just as important.
“They could have the best front three in the world, yet they will win no trophies if they are so vulnerable and exposed to the counterattack like they were here.
“A winger or two would be great but a new holding midfielder should join the wide forwards at the top of that shopping list.”
Two new wingers and a defensive midfielder would be the perfect way to end the summer window
If Liverpool added Barcola and Minteh before completing a surprise deal to bring a defensive midfielder to Anfield, it would be the best end to the summer window anyone could hope for without making unrealistic requests.
(?) NEW: I’m being told the price for Bradley Barcola has dropped from €170m and is now closer to the €140m figure for Yan Diomande at Real Madrid.
Liverpool can either wait another week to see if it drops towards €120m or pull the trigger.
(@JacobsBen via @talkSPORT) pic.twitter.com/6GIDmbc3Q4
— The Anfield Talk (@TheAnfieldTalk) August 24, 2026
The 2-2 draw at St. James’ Park highlighted a number of major issues in the profiles in the Liverpool squad, with the lack of a natural holding midfielder being the most important one.
That said, Andoni Iraola has made it clear that he doesn’t envision a No.6 as part of his plan for Liverpool.
“I think it’s just not personnel,” he told reporters at St James’ Park. “I understand, you are telling me basically that Ryan Gravenberch is the six and he is on the edge of the box, but if he shoots and he scores we are saying ‘what a play from Ryan Gravenberch‘.
“I also don’t want to take this from his game, but we have to adapt as a team to these situations and we have to know that these situations can happen.
“I think the second goal probably we did better in terms of having the numbers to defend, we don’t make the foul, go to the first challenge, probably reduce the distance with the ball-carrier, so it’s an incredible goal.
“Situations [are] just not because one person is playing there, [it] is something that we have to correct between a lot of players.”
