Liverpool has broken the club's transfer record twice in the summer of 2025 with Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. Stepping into this summer's market, the Anfield team still has no intention of stopping.
Bradley Barcola, Paris Saint-Germain's winger, is emerging as the number one target to complete the overhaul of the attack under Andoni Iraola.
According to many sources, Liverpool is willing to spend about 100 million pounds to recruit Barcola, while PSG values the French international up to 145 million pounds. If the deal is successful, this will be the third time in just two consecutive summer transfer windows that Liverpool has spent more than 100 million pounds for a player.
Barcola joined PSG from Lyon in 2023 and quickly affirmed his value when he and the team won three Ligue 1 titles, two French National Cups and two consecutive Champions League titles. However, competition with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele made the 23-year-old not always start, opening up opportunities for Liverpool to persuade him to move to Anfield.
After the departure of Mohamed Salah, while Hugo Ekitike is on a long-term leave due to an Achilles tendon injury and Cody Gakpo's future is unclear, The Kop needs to add a spearhead who can create breakthroughs on the flanks. Barcola is considered a suitable option thanks to his ability to play well on both wings and the center forward position.
Statistics also show the reason Liverpool is determined to pursue the French player. According to Opta's evaluation model, Barcola is the winger with the most similar playing style to Luis Diaz in the top 5 European national championships last season.
Although often playing on the left, Barcola possesses the scoring instinct of a center forward. He averages 3.5 shots per 90 minutes in Ligue 1, belonging to the group of players with the most shots in the league. The expected goal difference (xG) of 9.83 is in the 5% group of wingers who are likely to appear in the most favorable finishing positions in Europe, and he has scored 11 goals, exceeding his xG.
Another outstanding strength of the French international is his penetration ability. Barcola is the only player in the top 5 European leagues last season to achieve an average of more than two dribbles ending with a shot every 90 minutes. He is also in the group of players who touch the ball the most in the opponent's penalty area, showing a tendency to frequently penetrate dangerous areas instead of just sticking to the flanks.
Compared to Mohamed Salah, Barcola performed more dribbles but leaned towards individual breakthroughs instead of assists. However, under the guidance of Luis Enrique, his coordination and decision-making ability have clearly improved, knowing how to choose the time to accelerate or keep the ball to serve the collective play.
Pressing ability is also a big plus. Barcola is in the top 10 players to recover the most balls in 1/3 of the opponent's field in the top 5 European leagues last season, suitable for the pressing intensity that Andoni Iraola wants to build at Liverpool.
At the age of 23, Barcola still has a lot of development potential. With speed, technique, scoring ability, pressing and versatility in attack, the French international is considered the ideal piece for Liverpool to enter a new era after parting ways with Mohamed Salah.
If The Kop agrees to meet the price that PSG requires, this could become one of the most notable deals of the 2026 summer transfer window.
