Liverpool are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Paris St-Germain and France winger Bradley Barcola, a move that would mark the third occasion the club have paid more than £100m for a player. The Reds have already broken that threshold twice this year, agreeing deals for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, which could eventually total £116m, and a club-record £125m move for striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle in September.
Liverpool are understood to be willing to offer around £100m for the 23-year-old, though PSG are reportedly holding out for a fee closer to £145m. Barcola, who came through Lyon's academy before joining PSG in 2023 for a reported £38.5m, has since established himself as a key part of the French champions' attacking rotation, winning three Ligue 1 titles, two French Cups, the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Intercontinental Cup. He also featured as a substitute in both of PSG's recent Champions League final triumphs, including their 5-0 win over Inter Milan in 2024-25 and their penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in May.
The France international, who scored three goals for his country during this summer's World Cup, has often found his playing time restricted at PSG due to competition from Georgia's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and fellow Frenchman Desire Doue. A move to Anfield would likely offer him a more prominent role.
Liverpool's interest comes amid a reshaping of their attacking options. Mohamed Salah departed as a free agent at the end of last season after scoring 257 goals across nine years at the club, while Hugo Ekitike is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of 2026 following an Achilles injury. Cody Gakpo, who can also operate on the left or centrally, has been linked with a move to Tottenham, though Liverpool insist they have no intention of selling him.
Statistical analysis suggests Barcola could serve as a natural successor to Luis Diaz, who left Liverpool last summer without an immediate direct replacement. According to Opta's player similarity model, Barcola's output most closely resembles Diaz's among wingers across Europe's top five leagues this season, with a 78% match, ahead of Salah (65%), Lamine Yamal (61%) and Vinicius Junior (61%).
Despite being classified as a left winger, Barcola's playing style is shaped by his early career as a centre-forward, a role he occupied until age 17. Last season he averaged 3.5 shots per 90 minutes in Ligue 1, and his 9.83 expected goals figure ranked in the 95th percentile among wingers in Europe's top five leagues, the highest of any Ligue 1 winger. He converted those chances into 11 league goals, outperforming his underlying numbers, while also averaging more shot-ending carries per 90 minutes than any other player in the top five leagues (2.06).
Compared to Salah, Barcola presents a more direct profile as a ball carrier, attempting more take-ons per 90 minutes (4.26 to 3.38) but fewer crosses and through balls, suggesting a tendency to beat defenders individually rather than orchestrate play from wide areas. He has also drawn praise for his defensive contribution, ranking ninth across Europe's top five leagues last season for regaining possession in the final third, a trait that could suit the pressing demands of new Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola.
The potential transfer has sparked debate among supporters over the asking price. Some fans have questioned whether Barcola's status as a rotational player at PSG justifies a fee approaching £145m, while others argue Liverpool's priority should be strengthening their defence rather than adding further attacking depth. Nonetheless, with his blend of pace, movement and continued tactical development under PSG coach Luis Enrique, many observers believe Barcola, still only 23, has yet to reach his full potential.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.