As has been widely reported for weeks now, Liverpool's number one transfer target is Bradley Barcola. Yan Diomandé's €135 million move from RB Leipzig to Real Madrid appeared to have scuppered Liverpool's hopes of landing the Frenchman, considering that Paris Saint-Germain were previously leading the chase to sign the teenaged Côte d'Ivoire international, but there may be some positive news for Reds.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday, Barcola "wants to join Liverpool", adding that joining the Reds' "project is his priority". Romano goes on to state that "talks will take place in the next days", albeit not agreement has yet been reached between the two clubs.
Well, earlier in the day, a report by the Athletic asserted that PSG value Barcola at around €170 million, which is just over £145 million. Were Liverpool to pay that, this would make the 23 year old the third-most expensive signing of all-time, behind only Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, both ironically signed by Paris Saint-Germain. Fair to say, the Reds are not going to pay that, especially for a player with only two years remaining on their contract, and no intention of signing a new one.
This is to say that there is still plenty of work to do on all sides, but the most-likely outcome now appears to be that Barcola will end up at Anfield, despite the fact that the deal appeared in doubt just a few days ago.
Where would Bradley Barcola play at Liverpool?
Given the departure of Mohamed Salah, leaving Liverpool have been an ever-present fixture in the team for nigh on a decade, it was obvious that the Reds would need to recruit a new wide-attacker this summer. However, Barcola may not be the direct Salah replacement.
The Frenchman is very much a left-winger first and foremost, underlined by the fact that all eight of his appearances for France during this summer's World Cup came on the left hand side. In Paris Saint-Germain colours, of his 152 appearances, roughly because systems are fluid, 110 have come on the left and only 27 on the right, appearing 15 times as a centre-forward for Luis Enrique too.
Considering the fee involved, Barcola would certainly leap above Cody Gakpo in the pecking order, with Alexander Isak the number nine, but that would still leave a question mark on the right. Having already signed Víctor Muñoz, also a left-sided attacker, it will be interesting to discover what Iraola has planned.
Where Bradley Barcola's potential fee could rank in Premier League history?
As already mentioned, Liverpool are not likely to pay PSG's purported asking price of £145 million. Nevertheless, assuming he does swap the Champs-Élysées for Merseyside this summer, a huge fee will be exchanged, so who are the most-expensive signings in Premier League history?
Premier League signings costing £90 million+
- 1: Alexander Isak. Newcastle United to Liverpool. £130 million - summer 2025.
- 2: Morgan Rogers. Aston Villa to Chelsea. £117 million - summer 2026.
- 3: Elliot Anderson. Nottingham Forest to Manchester City. £116 million - summer 2026.
- 4: Florian Wirtz. Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool. £116 million - summer 2025.
- 5: Enzo Fernández. Benfica to Chelsea. £107 million - winter 2023.
- 6: Declan Rice. West Ham United to Arsenal. £105 million - summer 2023.
- 7: Moisés Caicedo. Brighton & Hove Albion to Chelsea. £100 million - summer 2023.
- 8: Jack Grealish. Aston Villa to Manchester City. £100 million - summer 2021.
- 9: Sandro Tonali. Newcastle United to Tottenham Hotspur. £100 million - summer 2026.
- 10: Romelu Lukaku. Internazionale Milano to Chelsea. £97.5 million - summer 2021.
Of the ten most-expensive signings in Premier League history, three have gone through already this summer. Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers have all been signed and sold for £100 million just in this window, with Mateus Fernandes' £85 million move from West Ham to Spurs just outside the top ten too.
12 months ago, Liverpool twice broke the British transfer record, first signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million, before smashing their own record by bringing in Alexander Isak for £125 million, plus £5 million in add-ons, on deadline day. Perhaps Isak and Wirtz, as well as many others on thus list, are proof that, just because a player costs a huge amount, does not guarantee they'll be a success from day one.
Nevertheless, based on all the reporting, the hierarchy at Liverpool are pretty certain that Barcola is the man for them, and this is certainly a signing that should get the fan base excited, anticipating seeing the Frenchman in a red shirt very soon.
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