Liverpool’s late-window plans took a sharp turn as Fabrizio Romano delivered his trademark “here we go” on a deal for Saint-Etienne forward Djylian N’Guessan – a move that could reshape the club’s attacking future and unlock a blockbuster exit.
Liverpool lock in N’Guessan for 2027
With the deadline looming and Bradley Barcola already set to arrive from Paris Saint-Germain after completing his medical on Sunday, Liverpool have moved decisively for another emerging talent. N’Guessan, just 18, will join the club in the summer of 2027 after remaining at Saint-Etienne for one more season.
The deal was first flagged by Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna, who revealed advanced talks between AS Saint-Etienne and Liverpool, with only “last details to settle.” The French club have long accepted that their young star, under contract until 2027, was likely to move on, and Liverpool have pounced, viewing him as a major prospect who can operate both out wide and through the middle.
Romano then confirmed the agreement, stating that Liverpool had secured authorization for N’Guessan’s medical and that the player’s side is also fully aligned. The move follows the capture of Lucca Brughmans, underlining a clear strategy: invest heavily in the next wave while juggling the demands of the present.
Gakpo’s future tied to winger chase
Behind the scenes, though, the bigger domino is Cody Gakpo.
According to Romano, Gakpo already has a contract agreement in place with Manchester City, and City have submitted an £85m bid to Liverpool. The Premier League champions are ready. The player is ready. Liverpool are not—at least not until they secure a replacement.
The club will only sign off on Gakpo’s departure if they land a right winger before the window closes. No winger, no sale. It is that simple, and it has turned the final days of the market into a high-stakes sprint.
Ismaila Sarr at the heart of the domino
At the centre of that sprint is Ismaila Sarr.
Romano reports that Liverpool have already seen a bid rejected by Crystal Palace: £45m plus £5m in add-ons, a £50m package turned down by the London club. Palace are standing firm for now, publicly insisting Sarr is not for sale at that price, while privately exploring potential winger options of their own in case the right proposal arrives.
Romano is adamant that Liverpool’s offer was official and written, not just a verbal enquiry. For all the denials earlier in the week, the Sarr–Liverpool link is very real.
The player’s stance is clear. Sarr wants the move. He wants Liverpool. The decision now rests with the two clubs, with Palace weighing their resistance against the size of the bid and the shrinking time left to replace him.
A market that knows Liverpool are vulnerable
As the clock ticks down, Liverpool find themselves in a familiar position for a superclub with a glaring need: every agent and every club knows they want a winger. Romano describes Liverpool being offered wide players “every minute,” a feeding frenzy around a side that will not let Gakpo go until they feel protected on the flanks.
So the picture is stark. N’Guessan is secured for the long term, a future piece of the Anfield attack. Barcola is on his way from PSG. Gakpo has an agreement with Manchester City and a huge bid on the table. Sarr is pushing for the move, with Palace holding the line for now.
The window is closing. Liverpool have their next generation lined up. The question now is whether they are prepared to tear up the present by cashing in on Gakpo to complete the reshaping of their attack in one frantic week.
