With Liverpool fans made to patiently wait for Bradley Barcola to arrive on Merseyside, any positive news is certainly welcome. Paris Saint-Germain are currently playing hardball, reiterating that the France international is valued at £145 million, while the Reds' opening bid was reportedly £80 million. However, have les Rouge-et-Bleu just made it apparent that they are planning for life beyond Barcola?
As has been widely reported on Saturday, PSG are on the cusp of signing Mika Godts for €60 million. He is a 21 year old Belgian international who plays for Ajax, racking up 17 goals and 12 assists in the Eredivisie last season.
Most importantly from a Liverpool point of view, Godts is an out an out left-winger. With PSG having also bid for Monaco duo Maghnes Akliouche and Folarin Balogun, Luis Enrique is certainly looking to reinforce his attacking options. This comes after Real Madrid hijacked the Ligue 1 champions' attempt to sign Yan Diomandé from RB Leipzig. Thus, everything suggest Barcola will be heading to Anfield sooner rather than later.
When could Bradley Barcola become a Liverpool player?
Of course, head coach Andoni Iraola will want to start working with new signing Bradley Barcola as soon as possible. As already mentioned, Liverpool have reported tabled an opening offer of around £80 million, with Paris Saint-Germain holding out for substantially more than that. However, the 23 year old has just two years remaining on his contract with les Parisiens, and has no intention of signing a new one.
Barcola also "wants to join Liverpool", according to widespread reports, hence why it is widely believed that this move will get finalised eventually. Following Sunday's clash with Leeds United in Chicago, the Reds conclude pre-season with a pair of matches at Anfield, taking on Monaco and then Como. Those with tickets to the first match in particular will be hoping a Barcola welcome to Liverpool presentation comes as an added bonus with the price of admission.
Why is Bradley Barcola Liverpool's number one target?
Bradley Barcola 🔴🔵#UCL pic.twitter.com/wkkxLtastr
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 15, 2024
Following the departure of Mohamed Salah, Liverpool's need for attacking reinforcements is clear. Well, they are unlikely to find a more dangerous wide-attacker than Barcola. In 152 appearances for PSG, the winger scored 39 goals and registered 37 assists in all competitions, a goal involvement every 118 minutes on average.
In Ligue 1 last season, he ranked in the top ten when it came to goals, shots on target, shots, successful dribbles and big chances created, underlining that he is an all-round excellent attacking player. Back in December 2023, shortly after he joined the club, his manager Lucho labelled him " the most decisive player in one-on-one situations", praising Barcola's "personality and the quality to burst out".
Thus, he is clearly an ultra-talented young player, and one who is worth spending £100 million+ to bring to Merseyside. Nevertheless, it does raise an interesting question as to how Iraola is going to construct his forward line. The new head coach confirmed earlier this week that he plans to deploy Florian Wirtz "behind a striker", with Alexander Isak that centre-forward in question.
In terms of the wide positions though, Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha and new signing Víctor Muñoz all prefer to operate off the left, as does Barcola, with no one currently filling Salah's former spot on the right. Considering the expenditure that will be required to bring Barcola to Anfield, the plan cannot be to deploy him out of position from day one.
That though is something for Richard Hughes and his recruitment team to figure out. For now, Liverpool fans should be excited about Barcola's potential arrival, with a genuine superstar poised to arrive at the club very soon.
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