Rumour : Mongering: Liverpool Target PSG Star Attacker Bradley Barcola

Rumour Mongering: Liverpool Target PSG Star Attacker Bradley Barcola

Newcastle’s failures to sign an Alexander Isak replacement could force the Reds to look elsewhere for an elite attacker.

For some time now it’s been clear that Liverpool’s dream attacking signing this summer would be Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, but with Newcastle struggling to source a replacement there is a realistic scenario where the 25-year-old Sweden international will be unavailable despite recent suggestions his club are open to selling.

Meanwhile, with Darwin Nuñez set to join Al Hilal, it’s clear the Reds will need at least one established forward to add to a group that could realistically be down to Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike, and promising teenager Rio Ngumoha when the Premier League kicks off in less than two weeks. So if in the end that new forward isn’t Isak, who might it be?

According to L’Equipe’s Loïc Tanzi, it might instead be Bradley Barcola, Paris Saint-Germain’s 22-year-old rising star French international attacker. That claim, as well as the suggestion it would take a bid in excess of €100M to convince PSG to sell, was quickly backed up elsewhere in the French press.

A move for Barcola would be audacious, but given the Reds have signed Florian Wirtz already this summer and have Alexander Isak pushing hard to join, it’s clear they have both the money and are widely viewed as one of the top potential destination for the game’s best young talent. If Liverpool willing to pay big and Barcola wants the move, anything is possible.

Certainly today’s French reports view Barcola to Liverpool as a real and plausible possibility, and while it’s perhaps impossible to say for certain his name has emerged as an Isak alternative, it’s telling that the first we’re hearing about this is immediately after Newcastle were beaten to Benjamin Šeško by Manchester United.

Šeško was intended as Isak’s replacement, and having failed to sign first João Pedro and then Hugo Ekitike, Newcastle have now moved on to trying to secure Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson. Even if Newcastle are as has been reported today open to selling should they sign a replacement, Liverpool can’t wait on them forever.

Signing Barcola, likely instead of Isak and as a versatile forward option capable of playing across the attacking band including at striker, would be a difficult and expensive transfer. Liverpool clearly have the funds, though, and clearly too they are intent on signing an elite forward this summer, whether it’s Isak, Barcola, or perhaps even Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

1