Barcola was not in the 20-man PSG squad at Lens on Sunday, and Enrique was in no mood to explain why. Asked after the 1-0 defeat about the winger’s absence, the PSG head coach offered three words and walked out of the media room: “Thank you, goodbye.”

The exit line came less than 24 hours after a pre-match press conference in which the Spaniard had framed Barcola’s departure as a matter of principle rather than tactics.

“We are a very young, very ambitious team. It is important for us to make changes and look for players who enjoy playing our way and who love playing for PSG. When a player doesn’t want to come here, or doesn’t have a smile on their face about being here, it is better to find another solution,” Enrique told reporters on Saturday.

Barcola was not named, but the 23-year-old France international has slipped down the pecking order since PSG signed Ferran Torres and Mika Godts. Teenager Ibrahim Mbaye, another Liverpool target, was left out at Lens alongside him.

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Liverpool ready to spend to a British record

At Anfield, head coach Andoni Iraola has been waiting for a marquee attacking signing since he was appointed in June to succeed Arne Slot.

Reports say Liverpool have prepared a bid of around £120m and are willing to stretch to £125m, close to PSG’s softened asking price. That upper figure would match the British transfer record set by Alexander Isak.

The push comes with fresh money behind the club. Fenway Sports Group last week sold a stake of about 30% in Liverpool to 1892 Holdings, a consortium that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, in a deal valuing the club at more than $7 billion.

No confirmation, but 1 September looms

None of this is official. PSG have not announced Barcola is leaving, and Liverpool have not confirmed a bid. What is on the record is the omission at a 1-0 defeat in the Trophée des Champions, the pre-match warning about players without a “smile”, and the post-match refusal to elaborate.

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The French summer window closes on 1 September, giving both clubs just over two weeks to finalise a deal.

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