Michael Owen Urges Liverpool to Abandon ‘Eye-Watering’ £145M Barcola Deal

Owen Warns Liverpool Against Paying Extortionate Price

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has issued a stern warning to his former club, urging Anfield officials to walk away from Paris Saint-Germain’s staggering £145 million valuation for French international winger Bradley Barcola.

The Reds find themselves in a high-stakes search for forward talent ahead of the summer transfer deadline following the departure of legendary talisman Mohamed Salah, who completed a free-transfer move to Turkish side Trabzonspor. With the Egyptian icon leaving a profound void on the right flank, European rivals are well aware of Liverpool’s urgent need to land a world-class replacement.

However, speaking in an interview with the Liverpool Echo, Owen voiced deep concern over the massive figures being quoted for the 23-year-old PSG attacker.

“That sounds extortionate, doesn’t it? For someone that’s not proven in the Premier League,” Owen stated. “Obviously he’s played at the highest level, but, yeah, at some point you’ve got to say no, haven’t you? If it gets to £145m, I mean, wow, that’s eye-watering… The problem is everybody knows you’re desperate for a top-class player, so you’re going to have to pay through the nose.”

Filling Salah’s Shoes: An Unprecedented Anfield Void

Replacing Mohamed Salah represents one of the most formidable recruitment challenges in Liverpool’s modern history. Across a glorious nine-year tenure on Merseyside, the 34-year-old forward scored 257 goals and provided 123 assists in 442 appearances, driving the club to two Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League crown.

Owen pointed out that while Anfield previously boasted an abundance of world-class wide attackers simultaneously—such as Salah, Sadio Mané, and Luis Díaz—the current squad faces a rare shortage of elite wide options.

“There used to be Salah, Mané, and Díaz,” Owen added. “There’s been so many great wide players over the years, and it feels like there’s a dearth of them now at Liverpool. They probably need two. They certainly need one. So, yeah, they do probably need to invest heavily in that position, but a lot will depend on the price.”

Negotiating the PSG Trap: Bids and Alternative Options

Despite Owen’s word of caution, reports indicate that negotiations between Liverpool and PSG remain active. Having won back-to-back Champions League titles in Paris, Barcola has signaled an openness to join the Reds, having already agreed on personal terms in principle.

While Liverpool’s initial opening offer stood near €100 million (£86m), updated reports reveal that the Merseyside club has raised its valuation offer toward €117 million (£100m). However, PSG chief Luis Enrique and the French club’s hierarchy are holding firm for their full €150m (£145m) price tag before sanctioning a deal.

Concurrently, Liverpool are exploring a double raid on PSG by opening talks for 18-year-old sensation Ibrahim Mbaye, valued at €50 million. As deadline day approaches, Liverpool’s recruitment team must decide whether to shatter their club-record transfer fee for Barcola or heed Owen’s advice and pivot toward alternative targets.