Paris Saint-Germain have communicated to Liverpool that winger Bradley Barcola is not for sale this summer, according to reports. The French club had earlier been reported to have set a £128 million price tag on the 23-year-old, but have since performed a U-turn on allowing him to leave.
Liverpool's Search for Salah Replacement
Liverpool are actively seeking attacking reinforcements under manager Andoni Iraola as they prepare for life after Mohamed Salah, who is set to depart. The Reds had identified Barcola as a prime target, but PSG’s stance has forced them to reconsider.
RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande had been a long-term target, but the Ivorian winger is now expected to join PSG on a five-year deal for a fee exceeding £85 million. This development intensified Liverpool’s interest in Barcola, who is currently impressing at the World Cup with the French national team under Didier Deschamps.
PSG's Change of Heart
According to L'Equipe, PSG had initially placed a £128 million valuation on Barcola, reflecting his importance to the club’s ambitions in Ligue 1 and the Champions League. However, the Independent now reports that the Parisian club has changed its mind and will not entertain offers for the winger. Arsenal had also been given encouragement that a deal was possible, but PSG’s decision has shut down both clubs’ pursuits.
Mixed Opinions from Former Players
Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey praised Barcola’s potential, telling BOYLE Sports: "Signing Bradley Barcola would be an amazing coup for Liverpool because he provides the pace and directness we've been missing on the left wing. We've been spoiled with Sadio Mané and Luis Díaz, and now we need Barcola to get the fans off their seats again."
Louis Saha echoed this sentiment, telling Live Football Tickets: "Bradley Barcola is a terrific player. He has already won two Champions Leagues, and he could even win the World Cup over the next few weeks... He has become a much-improved player over the past few seasons... What Barcola needs is to move somewhere where he is going to be first choice in his position week in, week out."
However, Danny Murphy expressed reservations, noting Barcola’s preference for the left wing. He told BetWright: "The only thing with Barcola, of course, is he’s more comfortable on the left than the right. He can play on the right on occasion, but really I think someone more used to and suited playing on the right would probably be a better option."
Alternative Targets for Liverpool
With Barcola off the table, Liverpool are reportedly monitoring Real Oviedo’s Haissem Hassan, following his impressive World Cup performances for Egypt. The 24-year-old has attracted interest from Olympique Marseille and Celtic, with the latter seeing an opening offer of around £3.5 million rejected. The Reds face a significant challenge in reshaping their squad for the post-Salah era.
