Liverpool Nears Deal for Barcola as Iraola Embraces Power Football

Liverpool step back into Premier League action this weekend with a new sense of anticipation – and not just because Anfield finally opens its doors for the season.

A deal is in place to bring Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain, and Andoni Iraola is on the brink of adding a serious attacking weapon to a side still searching for its first league win.

Barcola left out as Liverpool move nears

Liverpool host Nottingham Forest still stung by last Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle United, a game that exposed both promise and problems in Iraola’s early work. The Spaniard wants more aggression, more incision, more threat in transition. Barcola ticks all of those boxes.

An agreement worth £120 million between Liverpool and PSG was reached on Thursday, with only the finer points of the transfer left to finalise. Officially, Barcola remains a PSG player for now, but key decisions around his status have already been made.

The clearest sign came on Friday night. As PSG travelled to Lille for their Ligue 1 clash, the France international was nowhere to be seen in the matchday squad. He had already been restricted to a substitute role in the UEFA Super Cup win over Aston Villa and then left out entirely for domestic games against Lens and Rennes. The pattern is obvious: PSG are preparing for life without him.

If the move goes through, Barcola will become Liverpool’s second-most expensive signing of all time, behind only Alexander Isak’s £125m arrival. A price tag that heavy brings pressure. His recent record suggests he can handle it.

Last season, the winger hit 13 goals and 7 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions. He played a prominent role in PSG’s back-to-back Champions League triumphs, often delivering in high-stakes moments, even as he fought for minutes against the likes of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue in a stacked attacking unit.

Now, with Liverpool chasing their first victory of the campaign and Iraola demanding more cutting edge, the timing of his arrival feels critical.

Wirtz handed the keys as No. 10

While the club works to close out the Barcola deal, one current Liverpool star is quietly becoming central to Iraola’s blueprint.

Florian Wirtz endured a slightly disjointed debut season in England under Arne Slot, shuttling between roles as an attacking midfielder and an inverted option from the left. He showed flashes, but never quite looked anchored in one position.

Iraola has changed that. During pre-season he made it clear: Wirtz is his No. 10, the creative hub around which the attack should spin.

Speaking to Sky Germany, the 23-year-old outlined just how sharply defined his new responsibilities are and lifted the lid on Iraola’s approach.

“He (Iraola) just wants to play power football going forward. Lots of pressing. The tasks you have are actually relatively clear,” Wirtz explained.

That clarity is now the challenge. The German playmaker stressed that individual understanding is not enough; the system has to click collectively.

“Of course, we now have to work on making it work as a team. So not only that everyone does their job well, but that it also harmonizes together. But he definitely makes a very good impression on me.

“I think that he reaches a lot of players with it and that we as a team also understand what he wants from us. I think it's definitely a good start, that the players believe in it, and I hope that it will be successful.”

Belief, a defined No. 10, and a £120m winger about to walk through the door. For Iraola, the ideas are clear. Nottingham Forest at Anfield will show how quickly this “power football” can catch fire.