Liverpool can offer Bradley Barcola his favoured No. 29 jersey straight away if he agrees to leave PSG for Anfield this summer. The 23-year-old has been touted for a major move to link up with Andoni Iraola's side as a replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Barcola's jersey choice and PSG exit
Speculation surrounding Barcola's future has kicked into overdrive since his commitments at the World Cup wrapped up. The France forward has reportedly rejected the opportunity to open fresh talks with PSG regarding a contract extension, fuelling rumours he's ready for a move to England.
French reports have suggested Barcola also turned down an approach from Chelsea earlier in the summer transfer window. However, he wouldn't come cheaply following indications PSG will demand around £140 million for their player, despite him having fewer than two years remaining on his existing deal.
The No. 29 has remained unoccupied for Liverpool for several years and is available should Barcola decide to make the switch. The emerging talent has worn the number throughout his time at PSG since arriving from Lyon in 2023.
Why Barcola chose No. 29
Revealing his reasoning behind selecting the No. 29, Barcola previously told trading card firm Club Legacyz: "It's actually a funny story. When I was younger, I used to play FIFA. In the story mode with Alex Hunter, this number became symbolic for me. I thought to myself, 'The day I go pro, it'll be number 29.' And here I am, I adopted it, and now I'll never let it go."
The last player to wear the No. 29 shirt for Liverpool was former loanee Arthur Melo during the 2022/23 campaign. And it was the very same summer that Barcola began sporting the number himself in Paris.
There will, naturally, be other clubs equally capable of offering such an unusual figure from their own stockpile. Nevertheless, it's a welcome boost for the Reds that one of their primary targets can be instantly accommodated regarding his preferred shirt choice.
Fit at Liverpool
The Barcola option is not an ideal fit for Iraola, who is in need of a right-wing solution following Salah's departure. The Frenchman predominantly operates on the left for both club and country, though he is capable of performing on the opposite side.
He even registered direct goal contributions against both Liverpool and Chelsea from that position during last season's Champions League campaign. And it may not be too long before he's causing similar havoc as a Red.
