Liverpool target Barcola not in PSG squad as Lens win Super Cup

French Champions’ Trophy

Lens 1 – 0 Paris Saint-Germain FT

Liverpool target Bradley Barcola was left out of Paris St-Germain’s squad as they were narrowly beaten by Lens in the French Super Cup.

Barcola has been linked with a move to Anfield this summer, with Liverpool reportedly prepared to pay the Champions League winners somewhere in the region of £100m for the 23-year-old.

The France forward, who has also been interesting Arsenal, was an unused substitute in his side’s Super Cup win over Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Without him on Sunday, Ligue 1 champions PSG fell to defeat as Lens’ Florian Thauvin scored the only goal in the 32nd minute when he turned in Matthieu Udol’s mis-hit shot.

Coupe de France winners Lens played most of the game, which they hosted, with 10 men after teenage defender Kyllian Antonio was shown a straight red card in the 39th minute for a studs-up challenge near the halfway line on Maghnes Akliouche.

PSG also lost substitute Nuno Mendes to a late sending-off after he came off the bench to replace recent signing Lucas Digne.

The capital giants have been strengthening their playing pool over the past week, with World Cup final match-winner Ferran Torres arriving from Barcelona and 21-year-old Belgian winger Mika Godts joining from Ajax.

Godts appears set to either provide Barcola with strong competition for a starting place or be a like-for-like replacement in Luis Enrique’s squad should the Frenchman depart.

• Why Liverpool are ready to make Barcola third £100m signing