Liverpool Pursues Wide Talent Amidst Barcola Contract Standoff and Diomande's Madrid Move
Mohamed Salah's departure fuels Reds' search for attacking reinforcements, facing high valuations and complex negotiations.
Carla Rooney
Liverpool is actively seeking wide players following Mohamed Salah's exit, with Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain emerging as a primary target despite significant contractual complexities and a hefty asking price.
Liverpool's proposed bid includes an upfront fee of €110 million, with potential add-ons reaching approximately €40 million. These add-ons structure around Barcola's performance in the Premier League and the Champions League.
If Paris Saint-Germain agrees to the figure, this potential transfer fee establishes Barcola as Liverpool's record signing, surpassing previous club expenditures. Liverpool actively seeks wide players following Mohamed Salah's departure.
The club secured only Victor Munoz from Osasuna so far this summer, despite significant outgoings. Historically, Liverpool considered swooping for Yankuba Minteh when Newcastle put him up for sale in 2024.
Bradley Barcola holds two years remaining on his contract with Paris Saint-Germain. The number 29 jersey has remained vacant at Anfield for several years, last worn by Arthur Melo during the 2022/23 campaign.
It’s actually a funny story. When I was younger, I used to play FIFA. In the story mode with Alex Hunter, this number became symbolic for me.
Barcola expressed a personal connection to this number, stating, "It’s actually a funny story. When I was younger, I used to play FIFA. In the story mode with Alex Hunter, this number became symbolic for me."
He added, "I thought to myself, 'The day I go pro, it’ll be number 29.' And here I am, I adopted it, and now I’ll never let it go." This personal sentiment could play a role in his decision-making.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande reportedly agreed to join Real Madrid. Paris Saint-Germain had a final £102.5 million bid for Diomande rejected.
Barcola predominantly operates on the left wing for both club and country, though he can also play on the right. He scored in wins over Senegal and Sweden during World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
CIES Football Observatory placed a valuation of around £85 million on Barcola, a figure lower than Liverpool's proposed bid. Chelsea's Pedro Neto is also mentioned as a potential target for Liverpool.
PSG, for their part, progresses with a deal for Maghnes Akliouche, who prefers to stay in France, and shows interest in Julian Alvarez. Liverpool won their pre-season match against Sunderland 4-2 while on tour in the United States.
DaveOCKop claims Barcola is keen on a move to Liverpool.