Liverpool are set to make an opening bid for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola.
The France international has emerged as Liverpool’s top target in the transfer market as they look to replace Mohamed Salah, who left the club at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Barcola, who has two years remaining on his current deal, is understood to be keen on moving to Anfield.
As a result, Liverpool are ready to formalise their interest and open negotiations with the European champions.
PSG have indicated that they value Barcola at around £145million but Liverpool have no intention of going that high to secure his services.
They will look to do a deal closer to £100m, given that the player has made it clear he won’t sign a new contract at PSG and wants to embark on a new challenge on Merseyside.
Barcola made 49 appearances for the French side last season, contributing 13 goals and seven assists, playing an important role as they retained the Ligue 1 title and Champions League.
Playing predominantly from the left wing but also able to operate on the opposite flank, Barcola was in direct competition with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue for minutes and his game-time in the latter stages of PSG’s Champions League run came from the bench.
Barcola is a product of Lyon’s academy, and broke into the first team in the 2021-22 season. He recorded seven goals and 12 assists in 47 appearances before joining PSG in August 2023. He has gone on to make 152 appearances for the Paris club, scoring 39 times and providing 37 assists.
He was named in Didier Deschamps’ 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, featuring in all eight France fixtures and scoring three times.
‘Barcola would be a statement signing’
Analysis
Signing Mohamed Salah’s replacement hasn’t been a straightforward process for Liverpool this summer.
Initially, they had their sights set on RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, but they had a bid rejected for the Ivorian winger, who is now on the brink of joining Real Madrid.
Liverpool subsequently turned their attention to Barcola, who they have tracked extensively since he made the breakthrough into the senior ranks at Lyon five years ago.
It soon became clear that the player was receptive to their advances having become frustrated about his place in the pecking order at PSG. He has turned down attempts to get him to sign an extension to his current deal which runs until 2028.
If Liverpool can agree a fee with PSG then it would be a huge coup for new head coach Andoni Iraola.
Whereas winger Victor Munoz, who joined from Osasuna last month, is untapped potential, Barcola is closer to the finished article.
The France international is a two-time Champions League winner and would give Liverpool’s frontline a real injection of both pace and quality.
There are some big boots to fill post-Salah. But securing the services of Barcola would be a statement signing.