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After months of negotiations, Bradley Barcola has officially become a Liverpool player. The Reds confirmed his £166 million signing from Paris Saint-Germain on the second-to-last day of the summer transfer window.
Barcola arrives at the Merseyside club following a fruitful spell in the French capital, where he served as the fourth key piece in Luis Enrique's electrifying attacking unit.
The lightning-quick forward was frequently overshadowed in decisive moments at PSG, yet his contributions for the back-to-back European champions more than justify his enormous transfer fee.
A new era is taking shape at Anfield as key figures from a previous generation gradually move on. Liverpool have invested heavily to ensure a seamless transition, and Barcola certainly carries the potential to become the face of this new chapter.
Winners
Florian Wirtz
The addition of another high-profile signing could relieve some pressure from Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, both of whom have found it difficult to fully establish themselves at Anfield since becoming the club's two most expensive signings last summer.
Wirtz, in particular, should thrive alongside Barcola. The German is still finding his best form, though there were encouraging signs in Saturday's 2–2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
Wirtz was involved in both goals, finding enough room between the lines to play two incisive passes, the second of which directly set up Víctor Muñoz's powerful deflected effort. Liverpool showed success in getting the ball to Wirtz in his preferred zones, something that had been a concern earlier in the season.
With a dynamic runner like Barcola ahead of him, Wirtz's productivity is expected to rise in his second campaign at the club.
Liverpool's latest signing excels at the inside run from wide areas, much like Sadio Mané did for so many years on Merseyside, and his pace frequently leaves recovering defenders helpless. It may take time for their partnership to click, but once it does... the rest of the league should be wary. Wirtz is precisely the creative spark Barcola has been missing.
Andoni Iraola
Liverpool have oddly assembled a collection of wide players who largely prefer operating on the left, despite Iraola's preference for versatile wingers capable of performing on both flanks.
Barcola was required to operate across the entire frontline under Enrique, whose emphasis on positional fluidity has made PSG so difficult to contain, but his most dangerous work — those cutting inside runs — has consistently come from the left side.
Some tactical adjustments may be needed on the opposite wing if Ismaïla Sarr doesn't arrive on Deadline Day, with Barcola set to be the primary option on the left. On the face of it, he appears to be a strong fit for Liverpool's new head coach.
Iraola thrives on organized chaos, drawing comparisons to a Marcelo Bielsa-lite. His Bournemouth sides were aggressive and direct, with Antoine Semenyo a notable beneficiary of the long balls played over defenses by the Cherries' center backs. Barcola could fill a similar role in Iraola's Liverpool setup. The physical profiles differ, but the skill sets share notable parallels.
Barcola is far more than just a speedster. He links play effectively in tight spaces, reads the game intelligently and works hard without the ball. The Frenchman checks many of the boxes the new manager is looking for.
Paris Saint-Germain
The reigning Champions League holders have overhauled their attack this summer. The arrivals of Ferran Torres and Maghnes Akliouche threatened to create a congested frontline, making this the ideal moment to part ways with Barcola.
The 23-year-old's value is at a peak following back-to-back double-digit scoring seasons in Ligue 1, along with valuable contributions — often from the bench — during PSG's back-to-back Champions League title runs.
Truly elite wide players are a rare commodity in football, and Barcola is firmly in that conversation. PSG may have been able to extract even more from him, but they can hardly complain given the fee received. A satisfactory agreement was reached with Liverpool, who have made the Frenchman their joint-second most expensive signing in club history. It also stands as PSG's record sale.
The Parisians should manage well with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué continuing to spearhead their attack, with Ferran providing impact when needed. That said, there is significant pressure on Akliouche to step into Barcola's role.
Losers
Arsenal
Liverpool encountered little competition in their pursuit of Barcola, and some Arsenal fans may be left questioning why the Gunners chose not to challenge the Reds for his signature.
Arsenal were widely expected to make one significant attacking addition this summer. Christos Tzolis was brought in to replace Leandro Trossard, and at one stage it appeared the Greek international would be followed by Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior.
The Premier League champions made a genuine push for the Brazilian, who ultimately opted to extend his contract with Madrid. Arsenal have since shifted their focus to Julián Alvarez, though completing a deal with the Argentine before the deadline appears unlikely.
Remarkably, the Gunners could end the summer window having done little more than swap Trossard for Tzolis. The marquee signing many anticipated could have been Barcola, but Arsenal — if they were ever truly in the running — were unwilling to meet the 23-year-old's asking price. A similar situation played out with Morgan Rogers, who ultimately joined Chelsea.
Arsenal's financial restraint may deserve some credit, and they remain well-positioned to defend their title with their current squad. However, to take that next step in the Champions League, the Gunners may come to regret letting Barcola slip through to Liverpool.
Cody Gakpo
Barcola's signing has not triggered Cody Gakpo's expected move to Manchester City, with recent reports indicating the Dutchman will only depart once Liverpool secure a deal for Ismaïla Sarr from Crystal Palace.
Gakpo has been in an uncertain position for some time. His agent has been actively exploring options, yet the player himself has remained focused and professional, with Iraola relying on him at the start of his tenure. After netting in the 2–2 draw at Newcastle United, Gakpo provided the assist for Alexander Isak against Forest on Saturday.
It has been a promising start to the campaign, but with Barcola now in the picture, Gakpo's playing time — particularly on the left — looks set to diminish.
Instead, the forward will likely be deployed on the right, drifting into central areas when the fullback pushes high enough to provide width. Jeremie Frimpong's overlapping runs meant Gakpo effectively functioned as a second striker on Saturday.
It's a role he handled reasonably well, but Iraola will face some tricky selection decisions if Sarr hasn't joined the club by Wednesday morning.