13 Aug 2026 10:34:13
So, looks like Ibrahim Mbaye is off the table now. Liverpool apparently consider his valuation, of 34 million, to be too expensive. Bayern Leverkusen, however, are happy to match PSG's valuation.
Barcola still a target, at about 120 million. No idea why we are even humouring this. 120 million for a player of Barcola's limited ability is just absurd. Plus he has two years left on his contract. Not complaining about PSG's valuation, mind you, they are well within their right to demand whatever fee they wish. The fact we are still willing to go £100 million is the part that does not sit right with me, at all.
A week before the Prem season starts and, at this point, I have no idea who will be starting at RW. Could be Rio, could be Koumas, could be Munoz? None of these options are particularly welcoming. Two are youngsters, more used to playing LW, predominantly. The other is a new signing who will need to acclimate to the speed of the Prem.
Releasing Salah a year early, and not ensuring a ready made replacement was signed beforehand, was a massive misstep. We have covered Konate's departure with a loan, a short term fix to what has been a long term problem. Konate should never have been a starter for us. Hopefully Leoni and Jacquet step up.
Iraola is a quality coach, and he will make us more exciting to watch again, at the very least. But, my word, is he working with one hand tied behind his back. Issues and concerns at right back, centre back, left back, centre mid and right wing, ranging from quality to depth.
There will be growing pains, can see this season being very similar to Klopp's first season. With us looking exciting on the attack, but conceding silly goals. Hopefully still time to support Iraola in the market, although the player's integration will be rushed, with the season having already started.
13 Aug 2026 11:43:00
Chelsea want £120m for Enzo. Forest just got £116 for Anderson and Villa £117 for Rogers. These are the times. For me, if Barcola comes in, Gakpo is 100% out the door. He will not want to be a squad player, and I don't blame him.
If we can bring in £70 or £80m for him, I can live with paying that for Barcola. Crazy as that sounds because I'm not even fully convinced on Barcola, but it looks like we are going ahead with him so it is what it is.
13 Aug 2026 11:35:09
Where have you read this, Mango?
I saw a flurry of opinion pieces linked via NewsNow that say the same thing, but don't quote a source, so just wondering if it's one of these you have based your view on, or something more tangible?
13 Aug 2026 11:57:07
Complete non-story for me.
Romano is basically just saying what we already knew - that the clubs are speaking daily and PSG want as much money as they can possibly get. He even says "at the moment, the price made by PSG for Mbaye is considered too expensive" (they apparently want EUR200m for the pair which would be completely insane!), leaving the door open for us to still sign him and for him to save face.
We may sign Barcola and Mbaye, we may sign neither. Let's just wait and see. Hopefully it will all be resolved one way or another soon because this whole thing is painful.
{Ed025's Note - not as painful as it is for us Editors SK.. :)
13 Aug 2026 12:01:36
Is it just me that thinks Mbaye at EUR34m is much better value than Barcola at EUR120m?
Can't find the logic in that.
Only one of those players addresses our issue of needing a strong right winger. And it isn't Barcola.
Last 2 seasons, we spent a lot of money on players that we didn't need:
- Isak (not essential when we already had signed Hugo and play 1 CF)
- Frimpong (made his reputation as a wing back in a back 3/5 which we don't play)
- Chiesa (never had a clearly defined role in the team, played from the bench and cup games in striker and wing positions)
Is this a theme of Hughes' recruitment?
Trying to stay optimistic.
Not trying to be negative.
But Iraola is not a miracle worker and he needs to be given a competitive squad of players.
As we stand, I think our squad is weaker now than it was last season (no Ekitike, no Salah, no Konate, no Robbo) and the same weaknesses we had last season at right back, centre midfield and on the wings.
13 Aug 2026 12:06:10
Mbaye for that price is worth a gamble.
13 Aug 2026 12:16:11
Reading between the lines, I suspect the reality is that despite Leverkusen and other clubs being offered Mbaye at a price, the price being quoted to Liverpool is higher, and we are miffed about that, especially as we're in late stages of a deal with them for Barcola.
I remember that very outspoken Lyon guy used to say there is always a different price for Premier League clubs.
All part of the dance, unfortunately.
13 Aug 2026 12:16:44
'Limited ability', he would be our most talented player by a mile from what he's shown so far. We have a Curtis Jones in the actual first team squad for god's sake. 'Working with one hand tied behind his back' he's come from Bournemouth, I'm sure he can adapt. Having two of the world's most expensive players is hardly scraping the barrel. Salah was never going to be replaced, never mind the numbers, you're never going to get that consistency or injury free player anywhere in the world.
Who's your ready made replacement? There's no one, Olise? Nowhere near the dynamism of Barcola and he will cost twice as much. Rayan couldn't lace Barcola's boots.
Everyone seems to be forgetting these prices are pretty much largely a direct result of us setting the precedent, we paid over 100 mill for Wirtz, we can't complain about any price for a x2 Champions League winner and French international.
13 Aug 2026 12:30:41
Barcola's being brought in because he hit 42 G/A the season before last. There's nobody else in the market who's produced those numbers for a top top side. Not to mention he's played a significant role in winning 3 league titles and 2 UCL's, again, credentials nobody else available can match. The prices are off the charts, I agree, and I gave out about them in the beginning myself but the truth is there's nothing we can do about it; a weak talent pool means hyper-inflated prices, it is what it is. 100m is the new 50m unfortunately.
I agree, there's been a complete lack of foresight when it comes to lining up replacements, particularly with Mo's situation. We've a bit of a history of poor succession planning unfortunately. Olise should have been brought in back when we first showed interest in '24, could have got him for as little as EUR50m. Would have shadowed Mo and learnt from the best, giving us a smooth transition. Really poor decision from the club not to bring in both him and Semenyo at the right time.
Navy Keith, there's no point in comparing Barcola and Mbaye, one has fantastic experience performing at the top level, the other's just a kid who can't get a look in.
Isak's not essential? So if we didn't have him who'd be playing up front with Ekitike out for a whole year? Without Isak we'd be scrambling for a striker right now and there's even less of them on the market than wingers. I'll admit I was never really keen on Isak and Ekitike as a duo considering the similarities in their profile, body type and subsequently increased risk of injury, but we needed 2 strikers as we had lost 2 in Jota and Nunez.
Frimpong was brought in as he was deemed to be a somewhat similar profile to Trent in a way, started out as a winger but had experience at the back so he could provide going forward. In fairness to him, he had a fantastic couple of seasons with Leipzig and at the time it looked like a very good signing. Chiesa on the other hand was simply a cheap backup option at a time the club felt the squad was solid and in no real need of additions.
13 Aug 2026 12:47:46
@chewy, Reading your response, I think we're in agreement.
Succession planning is the main issue. How have we got ourselves in this situation with Salah? It's poor planning for a big club. We've known for a long time he would be leaving in the near future ever since he signed the extension. We've then cut the 2 years short and allowed him to leave after 1. It seems without a plan.
Re previous signings:
Frimpong "had a fantastic couple of seasons with Leipzig", agreed, but in a wingback system, which is what I said. We don't play with wingbacks.
Isak "I'll admit I was never really keen on Isak and Ekitike as a duo considering the similarities in their profile" exactly.
In 20/20 hindsight, now with Hugo having a long term injury, it makes some sense. But spending a record breaking fee on a player that had the same profile as a player we already had (Hugo) didn't make sense. Going for someone that offered something different would have been better - eg Jota could play wide alongside a CF.
I accept Barcola is a great player. But I would prefer a player that is more frequently played on right wing.
If I look at our wide players as an example to work from, Gakpo and Salah, their outputs would be far lower playing on the opposite wings. That's my concern if we plan to play Barcola on right wing.
13 Aug 2026 13:06:52
I'd say the best winger in the PL last season was Doku. Barcola is twice the player Doku is.
100m plus is the going rate for a player of Barcola's ability. You either pay it or take a chance on a cheaper target and hope they come good.
13 Aug 2026 13:38:28
NK, Barcola's not being brought in to play RW in my opinion. 80-90% of his contributions come from LW. I've no doubt the club is fully aware of that fact. Sure, you can argue that's only because he plays there more, but it's still his best side. I've no doubt he'll play RW at times, as Iraola does like to switch wingers if he feels a more traditional approach may be the most effective approach, but I don't believe he is stupid enough to play Barcola outside of his most effective position. We've already heard him state without any doubt that Dom would not be playing at RB and Wirtz will be playing as a 10.
I believe he's a coach who recognises the importance of his best players being utilised in their best positions and allowing others to fill gaps, as opposed to doing it the other way round as we did last season. I also believe we're still looking to bring in a RW as well as a Barcola, so long as we can find one that fits the bill. That said, if we fail to bring in a natural RW, there's a much greater chance of seeing Barcola spend more of his time on that side.
13 Aug 2026 14:07:31
We disagree on much, but Chewy has hit the nail on the head with every reply on this thread.
13 Aug 2026 14:46:23
Is Barcola really twice the player that Doku is? I'm not so sure. Anyway, they're pretty different sorts of wingers, with directly contrasting strengths and weaknesses. Barcola is blisteringly fast and will run in behind all day, but is a somewhat average dribbler and one on one threat.
Doku is one of the best one on one specialists in the world, and is very effective against set defenses.
13 Aug 2026 16:29:21
While agreeing with most here, I would add that Real Madrid have set the tone for the going rate of a winger with potential, at 120 million (Diomande). So, it should be logical for PSG to expect that their winger is worth more, given his experience and titles won, as mentioned above.
13 Aug 2026 20:35:00
Just wondering, with Gapo cutting inside from the left wing, why could he not take on a full back on the outside right wing, or has he not got the skill set to do that. Cheers.