Bradley Barcola can wear his favourite shirt number at Liverpool if he ends up at Anfield this month
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
Bradley Barcola will likely have one number in mind if he joins Liverpool(Image: Getty)
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Liverpool have reached an outline agreement to sign Bradley Barcola from PSG – and he could be handed a dream start to life at Anfield with his favourite shirt number vacant. The Frenchman is now on the verge of making his long-anticipated move to Merseyside, with the Reds finally reaching a compromise with the French champions over the sale of the winger.
The two clubs had been in lengthy negotiations regarding the proposed move, with time not on their side as the September 1 deadline draws ever closer. According to The Athletic, Liverpool and PSG have agreed on a total package worth £120million, which would make Barcola the second-most expensive signing in the club's history.
It is reported that £100m of the fee is guaranteed, with the remaining £20m being add-ons. However, the ECHO understands that work still needs to be done for the transfer to be concluded successfully. Should Barcola arrive at Anfield before the summer window slams shut, he'll be able to don the No. 29 shirt.
The 23-year-old currently wears the number for PSG and would become the first Liverpool player to wear it since Arthur Melo in the 2022/23 campaign. It holds special significance to Barcola, who explained the meaning behind his love of the number.
Speaking to Club Legacyz, he said: "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.
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
Bradley Barcola has vowed to keep No. 29 throughout his career(Image: Getty Images)
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"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." Barcola could opt to go a different direction in line with a new journey in his footballing career.
He was targeted as Liverpool's preferred replacement for Mohamed Salah and he could further step into the Egyptian icon's shoes by taking the No. 11 shirt - left vacant by Salah after his exit earlier this summer.
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Mohamed Salah of Liverpool shows appreciation to the fans after his final match for the club following the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brentford
Liverpool's No. 11 shirt is vacant following Mohamed Salah's exit(Image: (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images))
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Barcola's potential arrival could impact Cody Gakpo's future, which has been up in the air for much of the summer. The Netherlands star enjoyed a successful start to the season after scoring in the Reds' 2-2 draw with Newcastle United last Sunday.
He has consistently been linked to Tottenham Hotspur and recently became subject of interest from Manchester City. If a deal for Barcola concludes in the coming days, his first match for Liverpool could come against Ipswich Town at Portman Road next Friday.