Liverpool may lose out on both Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola as PSG finally drop transfer clue

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Liverpool supporters are expecting to see at least one of Yan Diomande or Bradley Barcola arrive at Anfield this summer, with optimistic fans still hoping that both could yet arrive.However, despite the Reds being in negotiations with RB Leipzig for Diomande, the chance that other clubs could enter the race has always been a real one.Paris Saint-Germain have regularly been named as Liverpool‘s most likely challengers for the Ivorian, but the European champions have so far held off from making Leipzig a rival offer. Name the five further signings Liverpool need to make after Victor Munoz this summer 👇 The Reds could reportedly target two forwards, two midfielders and a versatile defender… On Friday, the surprise selling of Goncalo Ramos to AC Milan felt like it could set off a sequence of events which could lead to PSG finally making their move for Diomande.Ramos’ reported £64m sale could also have ramifications for Liverpool’s interest in Barcola, with doubt suddenly thrown on whether PSG would sanction the exit of another attacker.Goncalo Ramos sale could change Liverpool’s plansOn a basic level, Ramos plays in a different position to both Diomande and Barcola, and some supporters will dismiss suggestions of any impact on Liverpool for that reason.But while the Portuguese is a central striker rather than a winger, Luis Enrique’s team tend to play with a fluid forward line, making his attacking options much more of a pure numbers game rather than position-centric.Photo by Franco Arland/Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Liverpool have picked their four ‘high quality’ wingers for next season but it just isn’t good enoughPSG will still have plenty left in the tank after selling Ramos, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Ibrahima Mbaye to pick from, as well as Kang-In Lee, but it is hard to see them weakening that selection further and selling Barcola unless another addition is made.It is clear that the Parisians like Diomande, and he appears to be the most likely candidate to fill Ramos’ place in the squad.If that happens, Liverpool seemingly have Barcola as second on their list of targets, but selling the 23-year-old would leave PSG in a weaker position again.Lee looks likely to leave, while Mbaye is reportedly unhappy as well.

For Liverpool, this could spell disaster.What would Liverpool do next? Of course, even though PSG’s masterplan may be to sell Ramos, Lee and Mbaye and to keep Barcola and sign Diomande, that does not mean they’ll get things their own way.

Credit: MAURICE VAN STEEN/ANP/Getty Images Liverpool appear to be in the driving seat for Diomande, and if they can move quickly to wrap up terms with Leipzig, they should still be able to secure their top target.Should they keep dragging their feet, though, it is clear that PSG are now beginning to mobilise, and any further delays could be fatal to their chances of landing Diomande.If that does happen, and Barcola proves to be out of their reach as well, then Liverpool will be back to square one.The Reds do have alternatives to Diomande and Barcola, but the likes of Said El Mala, Yankuba Minteh and Matias Fernandez-Pardo do not look like being anything like on the level of the two World Cup stars. Hoffenheim’s Bazoumana Toure has been linked as well, but he is in a similarly raw stage of his career.Liverpool are certainly playing a dangerous game in not simply paying Leipzig the money they want to sell Diomande and get him over the line as soon as possible.