Liverpool line up first Bradley Barcola bid as Premier League winger eyed as dream alternative

Liverpool are set to place an opening bid for Bradley Barcola, talkSPORT understands.

Preliminary talks have already taken place, but suggestions that Barcola has already agreed terms are premature.

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Liverpool explored signing Barcola in 2025 when a price of around €85million (around £73m) was quoted.

A year on, and PSG‘s starting valuation is €170m (around £145m).

PSG sources argue Barcola is a back-to-back Champions League winner and should be worth more than Elliot Anderson (£116m) and Morgan Rogers (£117m).

But Liverpool will point to the fact Barcola only has two years left on his current deal and will not sign a new contract.

talkSPORT understands their initial valuation will be around £80m.

The Reds already made a similar bid for Real Madrid-bound Yan Diomande, consisting of £68m (€80m) and a further £17m (€20m) in add-ons.

Although Liverpool view adding Barcola as an ideal scenario, there are no plans to overpay, even in an inflated market.

There remains huge faith in Rio Ngumoha, while Cody Gakpo will either stay or, under the right circumstances, be sold at a premium. And Vitor Munoz has already arrived from Osasuna.

Barcola scored 11 goals in 29 Ligue 1 games for PSG last season, adding another two in the Champions League for the club.

Meanwhile, for France at the World Cup this summer, he played eight times for his country, scoring three and assisting one goal.

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Liverpool’s alternative options

Liverpool are still looking for a pacy and versatile winger and have other targets in mind in case Barcola’s price fails to drop.

These include Köln forward Said El Mala and Lille star Matias Fernandez-Pardo.

Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh has also been discussed, but talks are not active.

Bournemouth‘s Rayan is also considered a dream target.

But the Brazilian teenager’s release clause, of over €100m (around £85m), doesn’t kick in until 2027.

Meanwhile, Chelsea‘s Pedro Neto is not believed to be on the Reds’ list of potential targets.

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‘We definitely need to sign a winger’

Liverpool’s imminent bid for Barcola comes after new boss Andoni Iraola openly admitted he wants another wide man.

He told reporters on Sunday: “No, I think it’s difficult to say a number [of players the Reds could sign] when the market is open, and you have to be always open to new options to improve the squad.

“There are obvious situations that we know where we need to sign players. A winger, for example – we definitely need to sign a winger.

“But there are other situations that we will have to analyse what the market gives you, what’s the cost, how we also see the players we have.

“We have some tricky positions where we have injured players that we trust but it is still not the ideal situation.

“So, it will depend on a lot of things.”