Fabrizio Romano reveals how Liverpool changed Bradley Barcola’s PSG contract
France star Bradley Barcola has suspended contract talks with Paris Saint-Germain following interest from Liverpool last summer, reports Fabrizio Romano.
Liverpool have been dealt a blow as Ivory Coast winger target Yan Diomande has chosen PSG as his next destination if the 19-year-old leaves RB Leipzig this summer.
The Reds are determined to sign at least one new player this summer following the departure of Mohamed Salah, who is leaving the club after a season in which he scored 12 goals and provided ten assists.
Meanwhile Hugo Ekitike will be out for at least the first half of the new campaign following a serious achilles injury, which has forced the Reds into the market to sign new players.
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Football FanCast verdict |
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Honesty |
The latest report on Liverpool’s interest in Barcola comes from Fabrizio Romano, and directly contradicts reports from David Ornstein this week, who said PSG consider the winger ‘unsellable’ and will want £116m in cash this summer. However, it seems unlikely that the club will go smoothly as the European champions could let the key asset enter the final two years of the contract which expires in 2028. |
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Finance |
Liverpool spent £446.5m last summer, but sales of £228.1m meant their total spending was £218.4m. Having spent very little in the last few windows, the Reds are in a very strong position to spend big again this year. |
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Understanding |
Barcola was PSG’s top scorer in Ligue 1 last season, with his 11 goals making it twice in three years in the French capital that he scored twice in the league. He has also picked up two goals and an assist at the World Cup, and is perhaps the most attractive of all at Liverpool. |
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Impact |
The 23-year-old’s arrival at Anfield will give Andoni Iraola four flankers who can play on both sides, alongside Victor Munoz, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha. |
Romano shared an update on Barcola’s contract
Romano has hit back at reports from other sources this week suggesting Barcola will stay in France, revealing on his YouTube channel that PSG fully expect the player to sign a new deal, but have stalled since Liverpool made a ‘big offer’.
“The fact that Barcola is not selling, is not leaving PSG this summer, is not what I am being told, that is not all I am being told.
“First of all, the contract negotiations are completely ready. And not for one month, not for two months, but since last summer.
“And last summer there was Liverpool interested in Barcola, maybe in the media it was not so strong, but Liverpool tried to enter into a deal, PSG closed the doors, and at that time they were waiting to make a new deal after rejecting a big offer from Liverpool.
“But the deal stops from the summer of 2025.”
Supercomputer predicts how Barcola will fit into Liverpool We asked the Football FanCast Supercomputer to predict how the signings would go if Liverpool were to make it this summer, and here’s what they said…
“Bradley Barcola is about to become a problem for the Premier League – and Liverpool’s rivals will feel it first.
“Last season Barcola registered 18 goals in Ligue 1, completed 4.3 progressive carries per 90 and ranked in the top two per cent of forwards in Europe for penalty kicks. Translate that output into Iraola’s system – built on direct pace, relentless pressing and quick transitions – and the numbers will look terrifying for Mersey.
“Here’s a bold prediction: Barcola scores 20 goals in his first Premier League season. It would make him only the second player to achieve that in their first campaign in English football since Salah in 2017 – and given that Liverpool will be crying out for a forward to fill that void for the Egyptian king, the stage couldn’t be more completely set.
“Dig deeper and the numbers are still impressive. Barcola’s shot creation per 90 – 4.7 last season – would have ranked first among all Liverpool players. Iraola will give him the keys. Expect him to use them.”
The transfer fee Liverpool could spend to sign their new Rio Ngumoha
Liverpool are already turning to other options for wingers and could welcome an already direct player like Rio Ngumoha.
