Liverpool's YouTube lot did not wait for a "here we go". By mid-morning on Thursday, the directory was a wall of Barcola thumbnails: The Kop TV, The Redmen TV, Anfield Index, Anfield Agenda, Liverpool Fan In Japan, Born 'N Red. David Ornstein had reported an agreement in principle with Paris Saint-Germain. Nothing is signed. The window shuts at 11pm UK on Tuesday 1 September. That did not slow anyone down.
The Kop TV put the fee in the language most of the channels used. "It looks like it's 100 million fixed with a 20 million add-on situation, which actually when you consider the asking price of 130, 140 million, Liverpool have done quite well." He also said the thing the titles keep skipping: "This deal still needs to be completed up until the deadline on Monday."
Liverpool Fan In Japan went straight at the same drop and named the cluster: Ornstein, Paul Joyce, Fabrizio Romano, posted together. "Liverpool reach agreement in principle on terms of deal to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain." Then the line that will travel: "This unlocks the maximum potential of Florian Wirtz." His read is that Barcola is the winger who attacks space, which is what Iraola actually wants, not another ball-to-feet wide man.
The argument underneath the celebration is Cody Gakpo. Kop TV: "This looks to me as if he goes in on the left-hand side. Now what does that mean for Cody Gakpo?" Japan was more blunt and more loyal at the same time. He wants Gakpo to stay. He also called a sale a business decision if Liverpool add another wide player. Spurs have been in for Gakpo all summer. City have had a look. Nobody on the fan channels treated that as done either.
Anfield Index cut a stats piece almost as fast as the live stream. "Liverpool haven't bought a Salah impersonator. They've bought a 23-year-old Champions League-level forward." Most of the Liverpool channels have Barcola on the left. That is why Gakpo is the knock-on, and why Japan still wants Richard Hughes to find a right winger before Tuesday.
The Redmen TV is the one with the audience. Dan's breaking show was up before 10:30, already into the thousands of views, titled as a £120m agreement. Anfield Agenda and Anfield Index were live in the same hour. Captions had not landed on those streams when this was written. The videos are still the ones to watch if you want the room, not a recap.
Even a United channel joined in. ADAM FC called it "pretty much a done deal" (it is not) and then said the bit opposition fans actually mean: "I'm worried when Iraola starts to get it right at Liverpool how good they're going to be."
What they agree on: Barcola wanted Liverpool, the old £170m talk was posturing, and this is a left-sided signing, not a Mo Salah clone. What they do not agree on: whether £120m is a bargain or a lot for a player who might not start at the weekend, and whether Gakpo survives the next 72 hours. Kop TV does not even have him in the squad for Forest on Saturday.
Until it is signed, it is still a Thursday morning on YouTube. The channels will be back the moment it is.