Claude Makelele says only one man can replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, but he believes that PSG will "never" allow Bradley Barcola to leave, even though he would like to go
Bradley Barcola dribbles with the ball during the Champions League final.
Bradley Barcola dribbles with the ball during the Champions League final.(Image: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Claude Makelele says there is only one player Liverpool can sign to replace Mohamed Salah: Bradley Barcola. But the former France midfielder also doubts that a deal will prove possible.
Barcola is a top target for Liverpool this summer, with PSG valuing him as highly as $193 million (£145 million). And Makelele says if Liverpool can get it over the line, it would be the perfect addition for Andoni Iraola.
"For me, the only player who could come to Liverpool and replace Salah would be Barcola because he's so young and very fast, and has that same speed and promise," Makelele told ComeOn.
"That would be the choice I would make, but Paris Saint-Germain would never let a player like that leave their squad. Even so, if I was Liverpool, I'd go for Barcola."
While PSG is reluctant to let Barcola depart, the winger only has two years left on his contract at the Parc des Princes. At 23, he wants more regular game time in the biggest fixtures.
In addition, PSG has also already moved for some potential replacements in the form of Maghnes Akliouche of AS Monaco and Mika Godts of Ajax.
Bradley Barcola in action for France at the World Cup.
Bradley Barcola in action for France at the World Cup.(Image: Europa Press Sports/Europa Press via Getty Images)
If those two forwards arrive, even though Goncalo Ramos and Lee Kang-in have both departed, that would surely free the Ligue 1 side up a little more to let Barcola leave.
Earlier this week, former Arsenal ace Emmanuel Frimpong suggested that Arsenal should join the race for Barcola in case it misses out on Vinicius Jr, the Real Madrid and Brazil forward.
"Mikel [Arteta] and the boys have finally got it over the line, which I'm very happy about," Frimpong told Ladbrokes. "But they shouldn't just win it once and be satisfied with that.
"They have to keep on winning it now and dominate just like how Man United and Man City have in the past.
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"We've got the players, we've got a deep squad and hopefully this summer, the board are going to strengthen further, because I still think we need a couple of wingers and a proper number eight.
"I feel like Declan Rice is playing in a position which isn't natural to him, so we need a proper number eight alongside him.
"For me, when it comes to realistic signings this summer, with those positions in mind, I feel like Bruno Guimaraes is someone I'd love to see at Arsenal.
"And also Bradley Barcola... I think he would be very good for Arsenal. Barcola and Bruno Guimaeres would be a very good transfer window for Arsenal."