Bradley Barcola has a ready-made gift awaiting him at Liverpool if he ends up joining the Premier League giants from Paris Saint-Germain this summer
Bradley Barcola of PSG celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Stade Rennais FC 1901 at on September 27, 2024
Bradley Barcola is free to take up his preferred shirt number if he joins Liverpool this summer(Image: Getty Images)
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Liverpool can offer Bradley Barcola more than just the role of a lifetime in stepping in as Mohamed Salah's successor this summer. They can also give the Paris Saint-Germain marvel an instant reward in the form of his favoured No. 29 jersey.
The France winger has been tipped to take over from Salah as the Reds' marquee transfer signing. Liverpool are aided by reports Barcola, 23, has no intention of signing a new contract at the Parc des Princes this summer despite PSG's offer of fresh talks over an extension.
Reports in France have claimed Barcola already turned down an approach from Chelsea earlier this summer. However, the forward wouldn't come cheap following suggestions he'd cost well north of £100million if PSG were to sell, despite him having less than two years left on his current deal.
The No. 29 has sat vacant at Anfield for several years now and is ripe for the picking in the event Barcola does agree to join. The rising talent has worn the number consistently since joining PSG from Lyon in 2023.
Explaining the inspiration behind choosing the No. 29, Barcola once told trading card company Club Legacyz: "It’s actually a funny story. When I was younger, I used to play FIFA.
"In the story mode with Alex Hunter, this number became symbolic for me. I thought to myself, 'The day I go pro, it’ll be number 29.' And here I am, I adopted it, and now I’ll never let it go."
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Bradley Barcola of PSG looks on during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Stade Brestois 29 at Parc des Princes
Barcola has worn the No. 29 consistently since joining PSG in 2023(Image: Getty Images)
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The last player to don the No. 29 for Liverpool was former loanee Arhur Melo back during the 2022/23 campaign. Ironically, it was the same summer in which Arthur departed Anfield that Barcola then began wearing the jersey himself in Paris.
There are, of course, bound to be other clubs capable of offering such an obscure digit from their stockpile. However, it's nonetheless a boon for the Reds that one of their top targets can be immediately satisfied regarding his preferred pick.
The Barcola formula is not a perfect one for Andoni Iraola, who finds himself in need of a solution on the right wing following Salah's exit. He primarily plays on the left for club and country but can feature on the opposite flank.
He even had direct goal contributions against both Liverpool and Chelsea playing from that position in last season's Champions League. And it may not be long before he's up to the same tricks as a Red.
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