Liverpool will be able to give Bradley Barcola an ideal welcome present if he moves to Anfield this summer. The winger has been linked with a potential move to replace Mohamed Salah, who left the Reds at the end of last season.
Barcola Stalling on PSG Contract
Barcola, widely considered one of the world's best forwards, is said to feature prominently on Liverpool's shortlist. He remains tied down to Paris Saint-Germain until the summer of 2028 but is reported to be stalling over a new contract. It's been reported that he doesn't want to agree fresh terms, meaning he could be allowed to leave the French capital ahead of next season.
According to talkSPORT, a transfer fee of around £145 million would be required to secure Barcola's signature. This would mark a new British record, surpassing the £125m paid by Liverpool to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle a year ago.
The Number 29 Shirt
If the deal goes ahead, the Reds would be able to offer Barcola the perfect gift upon his arrival by handing him his preferred No. 29 shirt. The number has been vacant since it was last worn by Arthur Melo during his loan spell at Anfield in the 2022/23 season.
Barcola has previously stated that he plans to wear the number for the rest of his career, with the inspiration coming from his days playing FIFA as a youngster. He said: "When I was young, I played FIFA. In story mode with Alex Hunter, this number became symbolic for me. I said to myself: 'When I become a pro, it will be number 29.' Now I'm here and I'll never let it go."
Alternative: The No. 11 Shirt
Should Barcola have a change of heart, he would be able to walk straight into the iconic No. 11 shirt at Liverpool. It remains unoccupied following Salah's exit at the end of last season and has previously been worn by other legends such as Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and John Barnes.
Handing the number to Barcola would suggest that Liverpool believe he is more than capable of following in the footsteps of Salah and his predecessors. However, it seems likely that he would stick with No. 29, which shouldn't be a problem for the Merseyside giants.
