Liverpool eye PSG's Barcola as part of wide-ranging forward search
Liverpool are showing interest in Paris Saint-Germain forwards Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as they plan for a major summer rebuild of their attack, according to journalist David Lynch. The club's search is driven by the anticipated departure of Mohamed Salah, whose contract expires at the end of the season, and a need to add depth following a long-term injury to another target, Hugo Ekitike.
Speaking on the Anfield Index YouTube channel, Lynch outlined the scope of Liverpool's interest. "Liverpool, they like pretty much all of those PSG wingers. They like Barcola, they like Doué, they like Kvaratskhelia, if they were even on the market this summer, maybe," Lynch said. He suggested that any sale by PSG would likely be to facilitate their own move for a primary target, with RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande also admired by Liverpool. This could create a chain reaction, potentially making Barcola available if PSG succeed in signing Diomande first.
Reports indicate that Liverpool have already made enquiries for both Barcola and Doué, but were rebuffed by the French champions. However, there is a growing belief that an opportunity for Barcola could emerge. According to Anfield Watch, there is a "real chance" the 23-year-old French winger could leave the Parc des Princes this summer, with Liverpool viewing it as a "real opportunity." The same report states PSG would demand a fee in the region of €71 million (approximately £61.5 million) to part with the player.
Barcola's profile aligns with Liverpool's recruitment strategy under owners Fenway Sports Group, which prioritises signing players aged 26 or under. This approach aims to secure players with high potential and future resale value. Since joining PSG from Lyon in 2023, Barcola has shown flashes of the explosive pace and direct dribbling that made him a coveted prospect, fitting the mould of a modern wide forward Liverpool typically seeks.
While Barcola is a key name in the frame, the more established Kvaratskhelia would represent a significant statement signing. The Georgian international has been in outstanding form for Napoli, leading former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey to recently name him as a preferred candidate to eventually fill the void left by Salah. However, the financial barriers to a deal are substantial; it was revealed in March that PSG have placed an eye-watering £160 million price tag on Kvaratskhelia, likely pricing him out of a move.
Liverpool's search is not confined to Paris. The club also holds a strong interest in Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon, who can operate on the left or through the middle, and continues to be linked with West Ham's Jarrod Bowen. The pursuit of multiple options underscores the scale of the task facing Liverpool's recruitment team as they prepare for a future without Salah, whose goal output and creative influence have been central to the club's success for nearly a decade. The coming months will determine which of these complex negotiations comes to fruition as the market begins to take shape.
