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Liverpool's pursuit of a winger this summer to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah—directly or otherwise—has shifted attention toward Bradley Barcola in recent days. However, the Reds face a steep financial challenge to complete a deal that may not necessarily serve the player's best interests.
Barcola has established himself as one of Europe's most promising wingers during Paris Saint-Germain's ascent to Champions League dominance. He turns 24 in September but appears to be squeezed out by the intense competition for places in the French capital.
Even before Real Madrid leapfrogged PSG in the race to secure Yan Diomande, Barcola was widely tipped for a departure. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has become the preferred starter in Barcola's left-wing role and has been outstanding in the 18 months since his January 2025 move from Napoli.
It's hardly a surprise that Barcola's finest spell in his three years at PSG coincided with the six months immediately prior to Kvaratskhelia's arrival, with his influence fading shortly thereafter. His frustration at losing his status as a key figure is entirely understandable.
In Ligue 1 last season, he started 21 of a possible 34 games, with five of those coming in the final five fixtures when Luis Enrique was rotating his squad ahead of the Champions League.
Barcola had featured more consistently in the Champions League earlier in the campaign, starting all eight matches in the league phase, as well as both legs of the knockout playoff round and the round of 16. An ankle injury ruled him out of the first leg of the quarterfinal against Liverpool, and he was unable to reclaim his spot, appearing only from the bench for the rest of the tournament.
Barcola 'Wants to Join' Liverpool
Barcola has been linked with several clubs this summer, including Arsenal and Manchester United. But Liverpool, who are yet to find a true Salah replacement despite signing the direct and functional Víctor Muñoz, have emerged as his reportedly preferred destination.
Contract negotiations have broken down and Fabrizio Romano confirmed on Tuesday that Barcola "wants to join" the 20-time English champions, a stance he has held "since May." Despite some uncertainty surrounding the Reds as they embark on a new era under Andoni Iraola, the Liverpool "project" remains Barcola's "priority" now that he is ready to leave PSG.
However, even with a reduced role in Paris, The Athletic reports that PSG value Barcola at $194 million (€170 million). Only Neymar and Kylian Mbappé have ever commanded higher transfer fees.
Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco represents a more affordable option better suited to the right flank. He is primarily a creator rather than a goalscorer. Barcola at his peak—as demonstrated in 2024–25 when he contributed 21 goals and 21 assists across all competitions—offers more of a dual threat similar to Salah. Liverpool are said to have made enquiries about Akliouche, with PSG also interested, though attempts to convince Monaco to sell for just $45.5 million (€40 million) have so far proved unsuccessful.
Barcola has been deployed on the right for PSG on occasion. However, if his game is built around cutting inside from the left onto his stronger right foot—mirroring what Salah did but on the opposite flank—it could prove to be a mismatched fit.
Paying what could be a Premier League record fee for Barcola and expecting him to fill the boots of a genuine club legend in a position that isn't his natural one seems unfair to all parties involved.
Should Liverpool bring Barcola in on the left, it would likely spell the end of Cody Gakpo's underwhelming Anfield tenure, which supporters would probably not mourn. But it raises the question of why Muñoz was signed in the first place—unless he's intended to play out of position—and what the future holds for Rio Ngumoha.
Liverpool supporters have high expectations for the 18-year-old talent, who caught the eye during 29 appearances last season and looks set for a full breakthrough in 2026–27 if managed carefully. Blocking his path to regular first-team football could prove deeply damaging for Ngumoha's development.
Barcola Could be Penalized by PSG
Liverpool won't invest time this summer trying to drive down PSG's valuation without clear signals from the player that he genuinely wants the move. So beyond reporters like Romano stating that Barcola is keen, it will become evident he's fully on board once reports emerge of club-to-club discussions progressing and formal bids being submitted.
The challenge for Barcola is that it may require lengthy negotiations for Liverpool to bring PSG down to an acceptable figure—if that's even achievable.
Throughout all of this, Barcola has made clear his desire to join Liverpool. But if the move falls through and he remains in Paris, what lies ahead for him? The Athletic noted that PSG boss Enrique, who has transformed the club into elite champions by placing the collective above all else, "only wants committed players."
This suggests Barcola risks fading even further into the background next season, needing to demonstrate his dedication to PSG if he hopes to play any meaningful part in the team.