Liverpool 'hold talks' for second PSG player alongside Bradley Barcola deal

Liverpool are reportedly working on signing another top player from Paris Saint-Germain to join alongside Bradley Barcola.

Ever since Liverpool completed the surprise signing of Osasuna winger Victor Munoz after triggering his €40million (£34.6m) release clause, the Reds have been very quiet this summer.

Ahead of the summer transfer window opening, it was widely expected that Liverpool, under the leadership of new head coach Andoni Iraola, would be extremely active in the market.

Add to this the fact that several Liverpool players have suffered injuries during pre-season and fans are becoming increasingly frustrated at the club's lack of action.

However, it has widely been reported that the Reds are closing in on a deal for the highly-rated PSG winger Barcola, who has been strongly linked with a move to Anfield costing upwards of £100m.

The 23-year-old is believed to be the ideal replacement for Mohamed Salah, who left the club after a mutual agreement to terminate his contract a year early this summer.

But it now appears that business with PSG might not stop there, as a report from Dave Ockop has claimed that Liverpool have held talks with the representatives of defender Illia Zabarnyi this summer.

The report claims that Zabarnyi's representatives have made it clear that a deal could be made before the window closes on September 1 after he was frozen out of the team by Enrique at the end of last season.

Given his experience working with Iraola at Bournemouth, the move appears to make perfect sense, particularly given the fact that PSG will reportedly only look to get their money back for the defender should they sell him just one year later.

READ MORE: Liverpool handed double Bradley Barcola transfer boost as PSG talks continue

Liverpool make final decision on signing a new defender this summer

That being said, it would still be an expensive deal for Liverpool, as Zabarnyi made the move from Bournemouth for a fee of around £57m, which would make him the club's second most expensive defender, behind Virgil van Dijk.

It remains to be seen if a deal for Zabarnyi will actually happen this summer, with a conflicting report from Mark McAdam stating that Liverpool don't plan on signing a new defender this summer and will instead wait for Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez to return from injury.

“No, is the answer we are being told,” McAdam said on Sky Sports News,

He added: “My understanding is Liverpool will not go into the market to sign a [new defender] for the next four to six weeks.

“Do you spend £50 million, £60 million on a defender and then in six weeks when everyone’s fit and back, what’s he going to do, sit on the bench? Sit in the stands?

“It doesn’t make financial sense. They’re just going to have to ride the storm and then wait for their players to come back. Then they will be at full strength at the back.”

In light of this report, it has been suggested that midfielder Wataru Endo could be seen as an option to partner Van Dijk at centre back for the start of the season.