Liverpool Eyeing Bradley Barcola as Winger Alternative
Liverpool’s search for a new winger has taken a sharp turn towards Paris – and towards Bradley Barcola.
With Yan Diomande edging towards Paris Saint-Germain, Barcola has moved high on Liverpool’s list of alternatives as the club accelerate plans for life after Mohamed Salah.
Diomande drifts away, PSG close in
Liverpool had made 19-year-old Diomande their primary wide target, but their pursuit has hit a financial wall. RB Leipzig are holding out for a fee significantly higher than the £86m Liverpool were prepared to pay for the Ivory Coast international, and the Premier League side have refused to be drawn into a bidding war.
That stance has opened the door for PSG. The French and European champions are in talks with Leipzig after Diomande indicated his preference for a move to Paris. Luis Enrique’s side have an agreement in place with the winger on a contract running until 2031, leaving only club-to-club negotiations to be finalised.
While those talks continue, Liverpool have been forced to look elsewhere.
Barcola moves into focus
One name stands out: Bradley Barcola.
The 23-year-old’s situation at PSG is delicate. He has two years left on his contract and remains a player the French champions would ideally like to keep, but his frustration has been growing. Being overlooked for the biggest occasions – most notably the Champions League final win against Arsenal – has not gone unnoticed in his camp.
That discontent has put top clubs on alert. Sky Sports News reported earlier this month that Barcola could leave PSG this summer if he returns from the World Cup with France still unhappy with his role.
PSG’s stance is clear. They will not force him out, but they will not block a move if he pushes to go and a club matches their valuation. There will be no discounts. With two years remaining on his deal, this is a pivotal moment: extend, or be cashed in.
Liverpool, in the middle of a major reshaping of their forward line, are watching closely.
Replacing Salah, reshaping the attack
Salah’s departure – confirmed as one of the exits this summer – has left a gaping hole on the right of Liverpool’s attack and in their goalscoring numbers. The club have already moved to reinforce the wide areas, bringing in Victor Munoz from Osasuna for £34.5m, but that is only part of the rebuild.
Jeremy Jacquet has also arrived from Rennes for £60m, underlining the scale of Liverpool’s investment as they attempt to refresh a squad that has lost experience and star power. Andy Robertson has joined Tottenham on a free transfer, Ibrahima Konate has gone to Real Madrid, and Salah, along with Rhys Williams, has been released.
Against that backdrop, the profile of the next winger matters. Barcola offers pace, direct running and the kind of high-ceiling talent that fits Liverpool’s recent recruitment model. He is also at an age where his best years should be ahead of him.
Arsenal lurking, but looking elsewhere
Liverpool are not alone in tracking Barcola. Arsenal have also kept an eye on the PSG winger as they consider options for the left-hand side of their attack.
For now, though, their priority in that position appears to be Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa. That focus gives Liverpool a cleaner run at Barcola if they decide to move decisively.
The question is whether Liverpool are ready to pivot fully from Diomande and commit serious money to a player whose club are under no pressure to sell cheaply.
PSG hold the cards on both wingers. Liverpool must decide which hand to play – and how much they are truly willing to stake on the next wide star of the post-Salah era.
