Bradley Barcola has been told he does not justify his £123m price tag after failing to contribute a goal or assist in his first four Liverpool appearances. Former France and Chelsea defender Frank Lebouef made the claim in comments reported by the Mirror.
The 24-year-old has yet to complete a full 90 minutes for the Reds since becoming the second-most expensive player in the club's history. Lebouef said: "Bradley Barcola wasn't worth that money because nobody is, transfer fees have become astronomical across the board. That said, it's a great opportunity for Barcola to play for clubs like Lyon, PSG and now Liverpool."
Patience urged for new signing
Lebouef, 58, stressed that supporters will need to show patience with Barcola. He said: "However, he needs time to adapt because the Premier League is different. He will get less space than he had at PSG under Luis Enrique."
"He joined a team undergoing significant changes after a difficult transition. Liverpool signed Isak, Ekitike, Wirtz and new full-backs and the team is still finding its rhythm."
Barcola found his minutes limited at the Parc des Princes last season as he competed with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for a spot on the left flank. Still, he scored 13 times and provided seven assists as PSG won Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Unbeaten start under Iraola
Liverpool have maintained an unbeaten run across all competitions under new manager Andoni Iraola, taking sixth place in the Premier League with two victories and three draws from their first five matches, including a 1-0 win against his old club Bournemouth on Sunday. That win marked their third consecutive clean sheet, a milestone not reached since their title-winning 24/25 season.
The mega money attack of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo has yet to fully click into gear. Last season's £116m addition Wirtz and newcomer Barcola in particular need to improve.
Real Madrid beaten to goalkeeper
Liverpool's acquisition of goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans represented a double triumph, given they reportedly saw off interest from Real Madrid to secure the highly-regarded Belgian. The 18-year-old penned terms with the Reds on transfer deadline day in a £30m agreement before being loaned back to Genk for the remainder of the campaign.
The sum made Brughmans the most costly teenage shot-stopper in football history, with many expecting him to be the long-term successor to Alisson Becker, whose Anfield contract runs out next summer. According to the Mail, the Belgian youth international had visited Madrid and appeared set to follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman Thibaut Courtois. However, the Reds swiftly submitted their proposal to Genk a day before the deadline and arranged for him to travel to Merseyside the next morning to complete his move.
