Journalist: Liverpool ready to move for forward despite £127m price tag | OneFootball

Bradley Barcola Debate Shows Scale of Liverpool’s Summer Decision

Liverpool’s reported interest in PSG forward Bradley Barcola has become one of the more revealing transfer discussions of the summer. On Anfield Index, Trev Downey and Lewis Steele looked at the cost, the need, the tactical fit and the wider question of ambition under Andoni Iraola.

Barcola Fee Raises Liverpool Question

Downey introduced the subject by noting that Barcola’s reported price tag had started to circulate, suggesting PSG could be looking at “around about £127.8 million pounds”, roughly “150 million euros.” He called it “a massive, massive commitment of money”, especially once wages, agent fees and a long contract are factored in.

That is the central issue. Liverpool may need a headline forward, but Barcola would not be a tidy squad addition. He would be the sort of signing that changes expectations immediately.

Steele’s response was clear. Liverpool have lost major attacking power and need to act accordingly.

“They’ve lost the best player they’ve had in the last decade,” Steele said, referring to Mohamed Salah. He added that Salah had endured “a bad season last season”, yet still contributed “22 goal involvements.”

Marquee Signing Could Help Iraola

For Steele, the Barcola discussion is about more than one player. It is about backing Iraola properly.

“You’re losing still your best attacking force basically,” he said, before adding that Liverpool also have “a new manager” who “needs to be backed.”

That is where Barcola’s appeal sits. Steele described the PSG forward as the kind of player who could help Liverpool show they intend to compete with Arsenal and Manchester City.

“Barcola can help close that gap,” Steele said. “I think he’s a marquee signing.” He also described such a deal as “a statement to the rest of the league.”

There was realism too. Steele admitted that spending that level of money “doesn’t seem a Liverpool thing to do”, and suggested the club might normally prefer to spend less on two wingers, including Victor Munoz, who has already arrived.

Tactical Fit Should Not Kill Deal

One of the main concerns around Barcola is obvious. Liverpool need to replace Salah’s influence on the right, while Barcola is primarily associated with the left. Downey addressed that directly, suggesting Liverpool could sign an elite wide player and then “shift the chess pieces” if there is no obvious top-class right winger available.

Steele agreed with the broader principle.

“If you get a Bradley Barcola, he’s good enough that he could build the front three around him,” he said. “Does it really matter where the other pieces fit into the jigsaw?”

Photo: IMAGO

He used Sadio Mane as the example, noting that Mane had been more of a right winger before becoming “one of the best left wingers the Premier League’s ever seen.” Steele added: “I don’t really buy into wingers only being able to play on one side.”

Negotiating Position Looks Complicated

The final complication is Liverpool’s visibility in the market. Steele said “it’s obvious that they’re looking for a Salah replacement”, meaning selling clubs may add more to the price when Liverpool come calling. He used Yankubah Minteh as an example, suggesting Brighton could “add an extra 10, 15 to the price tag.”

Still, his conclusion was not that Liverpool should walk away from ambition. It was that they may have to accept the reality of this market.

“They’ve got money and I think they will end up spending it,” Steele said.

Barcola, then, is the test case. If Liverpool want to close the gap, excite the fanbase and give Iraola a genuine attacking pillar, this is the kind of deal that does it. The only question is whether they are prepared to spend like a club that knows exactly what it has lost.