Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki both turned out for Lyon - but Liverpool's transfer target has been described as the 'opposite' of his old pal who has enjoyed a stint with Manchester City
Bradley Barcola (France) during Round of 16 FIFA World Cup 2026, Paraguay and France, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, United States on July 04 2026. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Liverpool is closing in on a deal for Bradley Barcola(Image: Getty Images)
Bradley Barcola lets his football do the talking on the pitch, according to former boss Peter Bosz.
Liverpool is closing in on a move for the Frenchman, 23, with a $163 million fee reportedly agreed between the Premier League giants and the player's current side, Paris Saint-Germain. It has been a lengthy wait for the Reds to land their top priority target and while it's technically not a done deal quite yet, it seems on the verge of completion.
Former Lyon manager Bosz believes Barcola has developed into a "top player" while also maintaining his quiet attitude which has allowed him time to focus on becoming the star he always could be.
And as he prepares for life in the English top flight, Barcola will be reunited - albeit as opponents - with Manchester City star and former Lyon teammate Rayan Cherki who is a totally different type of character.
“He’s humble, he’s always happy, but quiet," Bosz said of Barcola when talking to the Athletic. "If you compare him to Rayan Cherki, who also came through the academy at Lyon, it’s the opposite. Even when he was 17, Cherki was the loudest in the dressing room, everyone knew he was there. But Bradley, he was quiet.
“Bradley was always giving his best, and you could see that he wanted to become better and better. I knew he was a good player, but now he’s a top player.”
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 04: Rayan Cherki of Manchester City speaks with Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool as they inspect the pitch prior to the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City and Liverpool on April 04, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Rayan Cherki with Hugo Ekitike(Image: Getty Images)
Playing at the Groupama Stadium as a young, talented 17-year-old, nothing was flashy about Barcola. He had natural skill and raw talent but he was not a brash player.
Bosz - who spent 17 months at the club before moving on - could see the left-winger had a bright future ahead of him. And yet, it took the forward some time to show his talents on the bigger stage whereas his pal Cherki never had to wait.
“Bradley was never one of those players who caught everyone’s eye straight away or exploded onto the scene overnight,” Cyrille Dolce, a former youth coach at Lyon, tells The Athletic. “He built himself up, year after year, away from the spotlight, before everything accelerated at just the right time. And that commands respect.”
Bosz, meanwhile, continued: “Bradley was a centre-forward; skinny, tall. A nice guy, but he was not as explosive as he is now. You could see he was still growing, but he was gifted, absolutely.
“The first time I played him, it was at right wing, because I didn’t have a place for him as a centre-forward. He was not a starting player. It was after I left that he really developed.”
Barcola will arrive in the UK to finalize the paperwork on his move soon and he will do so as closer to the finished product than he has ever been in French football.