Liverpool remain heavily linked with a move to sign PSG forward Bradley Barcola this summer, but it’s far from a straightforward deal.
Sporting director Richard Hughes is receiving some heat online for Liverpool’s quiet summer transfer window so far, but the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup should help them speed things up.
Barcola will have only just returned home after France were eliminated from the semi-finals before their 6-4 third-place playoff defeat to England on Saturday.
This will give him the freedom to focus on settling his club future in conjunction with his agents and PSG. The French club has reached an impasse in contract renewal talks, with discussions not just paused but seemingly over.
Liverpool can offer Barcola what PSG can’t, and that’s a guaranteed starting role. Kvicha Kvaratskhelia stands in Barcola’s way of starting every game for the Ligue 1 outfit, whereas Cody Gakpo is no match for Barcola’s talent.
Emile Heskey urges Liverpool to go out and get Bradley Barcola
When asked about what he would do if given the chance to decide Liverpool’s summer transfers, former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey didn’t hesitate in naming Barcola.
“If I’m honest, I’d go for Barcola,” Heskey said. “For the way Liverpool play, the club he’s currently at, and the tactical style he’s accustomed to, it just matches perfectly.
“He is incredibly direct, and that directness and raw energy on the left wing is something Liverpool have arguably been missing since Luis Diaz left. Diomande is a very strong prospect, whereas Barcola gives you that true attacking threat out wide.
“The pitch is the sheer history of the club and the direction it’s heading. You tell him about the icons who came before him on that pitch, and you tell him that he could be the next iconic figure to lift that club up to winning the league again.
“It’s the absolute best crowd to play in front of, to be completely honest with you. He would only need to come and experience one match there and he’d be completely hooked. He will understand the magic of Anfield, and hopefully, he will want more of that because it’s completely unique.”
Michael first started supporting Liverpool after Istanbul in 2006. He has since followed the Reds with passion and curiosity, founding Rousing the Kop, Anfield Central while briefly co-owning Anfield Watch. Michael lives in Cape Town, South Africa.