Liverpool have identified Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola as a potential target as they plan for life after Mohamed Salah, according to reports. The 23-year-old French international is understood to be on a shortlist of candidates should the Reds fail to secure their primary target, RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande.
According to Paul Joyce of The Times, Barcola is 'likely' to be among the options considered by Liverpool's recruitment team this summer. The interest comes amid an anticipated departure for Salah, 33, who is attracting significant interest from both Major League Soccer and the Saudi Pro League. Replacing the Egyptian's output and influence is viewed as one of the major challenges facing the club in the upcoming transfer window.
Barcola joined PSG from Lyon in August 2023 for a fee reported to be around €50 million (£43.1m). He has since established himself as a key component of the French champions' attack, capable of playing on either wing or through the centre. This season, he has registered 12 goals and seven assists in 41 appearances across all competitions, contributing to PSG's ongoing pursuit of a second consecutive Champions League title.
The winger is under contract at the Parc des Princes until 2028, meaning any deal would require a substantial fee. While Joyce's report does not specify a figure, previous speculation has suggested a valuation in the region of €100 million (£86.3m), placing him in a similar financial bracket to primary target Diomande, for whom Leipzig are also demanding a nine-figure sum. TEAMtalk sources indicate Liverpool have maintained 'almost daily contact' with representatives for Diomande since December, but the club is conducting due diligence on alternatives given the competition for his signature and the scale of the investment required.
Liverpool's interest in Barcola is part of a broader reconnaissance of PSG's attacking talent. The club has also been linked with moves for teammates Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue in recent months, though those operations are considered even more complex. The potential pursuit of Barcola represents a strategic shift towards a slightly more experienced profile; at 23, he offers four more years of top-level experience than the 19-year-old Diomande.
For PSG, the decision would hinge on their own planning and whether they deem an offer too significant to refuse, particularly as they operate within Financial Fair Play constraints. For Liverpool, securing a long-term successor to Salah is the clear priority, and their scouting network appears to be casting a wide net across Europe's elite leagues. The coming months will determine whether their pursuit crystallises into a formal offer for Barcola, or if they ultimately channel their resources towards another target.
