France superstar Bradley Barcola has been stifling contract talks with Paris Saint-Germain since interest from Liverpool emerged last summer, reports Fabrizio Romano.
Liverpool have been dealt a blow as top target Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande has chosen PSG as his next destination if the 19-year-old leaves RB Leipzig this summer.
The Reds are keen to sign at least one new winger this summer following the departure of Mohamed Salah, who leaves the club off the back of a season in which he scored 12 goals and provided ten assists.
Hugo Ekitike meanwhile will be out for at least the first half of the new campaign following a serious achilles injury, forcing the Reds into the market for new signings in attack.
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Football FanCast’s Verdict |
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Credibility |
The latest report on Liverpool’s interest in Barcola comes from Fabrizio Romano, and directly contradicts reporting from David Ornstein this week, who claimed PSG view the winger as ‘not for sale’ and will demand £116m to cash in this summer. However, it seems unlikely a club run as smoothly as the European champions would allow a valuable asset to drift into the final two years of a contract that ends in 2028. |
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Finances |
Liverpool spent £446.5m last summer, but sales of £228.1m meant their net cost was £218.4m. Having spent very little in the previous few windows, the Reds are still in a very strong position to spend big again this year. |
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Insight |
Barcola was PSG’s top scorer in Ligue 1 last season, with his 11 goals making it twice in three years in the French capital that he’s hit a double digit league tally. He’s also picked up two goals and an assist at the World Cup already, and perhaps most appealing of all to Liverpool can thrive on either flank. |
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Impact |
The 23 year-old’s arrival at Anfield would essentially give Andoni Iraola four wingers who can play on both sides, along with Victor Munoz, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha. |
Romano shares Barcola contract update
Romano reacted to reports from other sources this week suggesting Barcola is set to stay in France, revealing on his personal Youtube channel that PSG fully expected the player to sign a new deal, only for it to stall ever since Liverpool made a ‘big proposal’.
“Saying that Barcola is not for sale, is not leaving PSG this summer, is not what I’m told, it’s not at all what I’m told.
“First of all, contract talks are on complete standby. And they’ve been on standby not one month, not two months, but since last summer.
“And last summer there was Liverpool keen on Barcola, probably in the media it was not that strong, but Liverpool tried to enter into a deal, PSG closed the doors, and at that stage they were expecting to get a new deal done after rejecting a big proposal from Liverpool.
“But the deal is stalling since summer 2025.”
Supercomputer predicts how Barcola would fit at Liverpool
We’ve asked the Football FanCast Supercomputer to predict how the signing would go if Liverpool get it done this summer, here’s what they said…
“Bradley Barcola is about to become a Premier League problem – and Liverpool’s opponents are going to feel it first.
“Last season Barcola registered 18 goal contributions in Ligue 1, completing 4.3 progressive carries per 90 and ranking in the top two percent of wide forwards in Europe for carries into the penalty area. Translate that output into Iraola’s system – built on vertical speed, relentless pressing and quick transitions – and the numbers are going to look even more frightening on Merseyside.
“Here’s the bold prediction: Barcola hits 20 goal contributions in his debut Premier League season. It would make him only the second winger to achieve that in their first campaign in English football since Salah in 2017 – and given that Liverpool will be crying out for a wide forward to fill that Egyptian King-shaped hole, the stage could not be more perfectly set.
“Dig deeper and the numbers get more interesting still. Barcola’s shot-creating actions per 90 – 4.7 last season – would have ranked first among all Liverpool players. Iraola will hand him the keys. Expect him to use them.”
The transfer fee Liverpool could spend to sign their new Rio Ngumoha
Liverpool are already turning towards winger alternatives and could welcome a player who’s already as direct as Rio Ngumoha.
