Why this player? Here are 4 reasons explaining why "Bradley Barcola" is the crucial puzzle piece Liverpool must sign for their squad.
The departure of Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian star, who scored a historic 257 goals and provided 123 assists in 442 matches across all competitions for Liverpool, leaves the "Reds" with a big gap. New Spanish coach Andoni Iraola, who replaced former Dutch manager Arne Slot, faces the tough task of finding a suitable replacement to fill this void.
Certainly, this is a challenging task that could impact Liverpool's overall performance and chances of success. Mohamed Salah's individual contributions have truly been the team's backbone, but due to his physical decline, he has left. Among the rumored replacements, Bradley Barcola stands out for his excellent performances with Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team.
Bradley Barcola's strengths lie in his prime age, combining speed, skill, and experience at a high competitive level. This makes him a player who can elevate Liverpool's attack to become one of the most feared and dangerous teams in Europe again. However, Barcola's transfer fee is quite steep.
Reports say Paris Saint-Germain has set Barcola's price at around 170 million euros, or approximately 6.55 billion baht, based on the transfer fees of Morgan Rogers and Elliot Anderson, who moved to Chelsea and Manchester City respectively. Here are the 4 reasons why Liverpool must sign Bradley Barcola this summer.
Finding a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah has not been easy for Liverpool's management. After missing out on Jan Diomande, Liverpool immediately shifted focus to Bradley Barcola, a target they've quietly monitored since his breakthrough with Olympique Lyon five years ago. Bringing in a player who has won the UEFA Champions League twice will signal that Liverpool remains ready to compete with Europe's best.
Barcola's standout feature is his exceptional speed, reaching a top speed of 32.7 kilometers per hour (ranked 4th among Europe's top five leagues). This speed, combined with the new coach Andoni Iraola's emphasis on aggressive attacking and quick transitions—similar to his style at Bournemouth—creates perfect chemistry. Liverpool, which led the Premier League in counter-attacks last season with 128, will become even more powerful with Barcola's arrival.
Barcola is a right-footed left winger who likes to cut inside from the flank into open spaces to find shooting opportunities. He averaged 4.5 chances created per 100 touches, the highest at Paris Saint-Germain last season. He frequently darts into blind spots behind opposing right-backs, making him a nightmare for defenders who often realize his threat only after he has already caused danger.
Another key factor is Barcola's growing dissatisfaction with his role at Paris Saint-Germain, where he competes for playing time with Kviça Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué. This has limited his appearances in major games like the UEFA Champions League, mostly coming off the bench. He has declined to renew his contract and clearly expressed his desire to move, with Liverpool as his next destination.