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Liverpool's summer transfer priority has become crystal clear: secure Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola as their marquee new winger.
The Reds have already brought in rising talent Víctor Muñoz from Osasuna to strengthen their wide forward options, but, as Andoni Iraola has publicly acknowledged, the club still require another winger before the transfer window closes.
After missing out on Yan Diomande, PSG star Barcola has risen to the top of their wishlist. However, the European champions are unwilling to part ways with him and are reportedly demanding a fee of approximately £145 million ($193 million), which would likely deter Liverpool from making him the third-costliest transfer in history.
At that price, Barcola seems out of reach, meaning the Reds will need to explore other options. They will ideally target a player with a significantly lower price tag, particularly given that other areas of the squad also require urgent strengthening this summer.
Here are five more budget-friendly alternatives to Barcola.
Maghnes Akliouche
Liverpool have already been linked with an interest in Maghnes Akliouche. The Monaco winger, who is also on PSG's shortlist, has made a remarkable rise through French football, with a string of standout performances earning him a place in Les Bleus' squad for this summer's World Cup.
At 24 years of age and with three full senior seasons behind him, Akliouche looks like an ideal fit for the Reds. Factor in that he's a natural right winger with an exceptional left foot—making him a strong candidate to replace Mohamed Salah—and he becomes a genuinely thrilling target.
Technical ability is certainly no obstacle for the 10-cap France international, whose nimble footwork, superb close control and outstanding passing range make him a constant danger. The past two seasons have produced 14 goals and 22 assists across all competitions and while those aren't Salah-level numbers—few players can ever replicate the Egyptian's output—they provide a glimpse of his creative capabilities.
Akliouche would reportedly cost Liverpool just under £43 million ($57.2 million), making him substantially more affordable than Barcola and many other targets currently available.
A jaw-dropping signing? No.
A shrewd signing? Absolutely.
Rafael Leão
Rafael Leão carries the star power that Akliouche lacks, though that doesn't automatically make him the superior acquisition. The Portugal international is three years older and a right-footed left winger, a profile Liverpool already have well covered in their current squad. Nevertheless, he would represent an opportunistic addition capable of lifting a somewhat underwhelming attack.
Leão has made his desire to leave San Siro known to Milan after seven seasons, during which he only failed to register 13 or more goal involvements in a single campaign—his debut season in 2019–20. Across four of the last five seasons, he has reached double figures for both goals and assists.
Blistering pace, excellent dribbling and a sharp eye for goal are qualities Leão undeniably possesses, though how effectively those traits would translate to the Premier League remains uncertain. The forward is prone to inconsistency, something Liverpool can ill afford in Iraola's debut season.
The 49-cap Portugal international would likely command a similar fee to Akliouche, though his wage demands would be considerably steeper. An attractive price point, but a risky proposition all the same.
Rayan
By January 2027, Rayan's valuation will be in the same bracket as Barcola's. The Brazilian reportedly carries a staggering £130 million ($173 million) release clause that activates in the upcoming winter window, but could Liverpool and his former boss Iraola negotiate a deal for the Bournemouth sensation this summer instead? Potentially.
Rayan, who featured prominently for Brazil at the World Cup, impressed greatly during his first half-season in English football and clearly shares a strong bond with Iraola. While Bournemouth will fiercely resist any summer approaches as they look to preserve his market value, their stance could be tested—particularly given that few clubs are likely to trigger his release clause anytime soon.
Much like Akliouche, the 19-year-old ticks the boxes as a left-footed right winger with immense potential. Five years younger than the Frenchman, he arguably has an even higher ceiling, even if the trade-off is a relative lack of experience.
Rayan contributed five goals and two assists in just 15 Bournemouth appearances last season. The talent is undeniable, though whether the timing is right for a high-profile transfer is yet to be determined—as is the fee Bournemouth would be prepared to accept.
Said El Mala
When Liverpool's pursuit of Diomande first came to light, Said El Mala was identified as one of the club's backup targets should they miss out on the Ivorian. Conveniently, Liverpool are already aware of the 19-year-old's asking price, and it is far more palatable than the figures attached to Diomande and Barcola.
Brentford had already struck a £42.7 million ($56.9 million) agreement for the promising winger earlier this year, only for the player to turn down a move to west London. As a result, Liverpool would simply need to match that figure to secure El Mala, with personal terms unlikely to pose any complications.
The Germany international, who narrowly missed out on a World Cup squad place, operates primarily as a left winger but is well known for being genuinely two-footed. Standing tall for a wide player at six feet, he combines strength with pace and dynamism, making him an appealing candidate to flourish in the Premier League.
While El Mala is still relatively inexperienced, the teenager contributed 13 goals and four assists for Köln across all competitions last season, despite not always being a first-choice starter.
Yankuba Minteh
Alongside El Mala, Brighton & Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh has been identified as one of Liverpool's potential targets should their pursuit of Barcola fall through. Having previously shone under former Reds manager Arne Slot during a loan spell at Feyenoord, the Gambia international has offered flashes of his quality on England's south coast.
Two seasons at Brighton have yielded 19 goal involvements in the Premier League, but it is Minteh's athleticism and physical profile that make him such a distinctive threat. The 22-year-old possesses genuinely electrifying pace and acceleration, with his top speed of 22.4 mph surpassed by only 12 Premier League players last season—and just Jeremie Frimpong among Liverpool's ranks.
Crucially, Minteh is another player capable of playing on the right wing as a left-footer, though he has demonstrated the flexibility to operate on the opposite flank as well. Equally comfortable cutting inside or driving to the byline, his unpredictability is a key asset and makes him a highly effective creator. No Brighton player generated more big chances (11) or total chances (44) than him in the league last term.
Bursting past defenders and threading through tight spaces is where Minteh excels, and Liverpool are in dire need of a pace injection in their attack. Whether he justifies a fee reportedly reaching around £80 million ($106.5 million) at its highest is an entirely separate conversation.