Bradley Barcola moved to Liverpool for a big fee this summer, but he has been backed to shine under Andoni Iraola alongside his French national teammate, Jeremy Jacquet
Liverpool forward Bradley Barcola is yet to score his first goal for the club
Liverpool forward Bradley Barcola is yet to score his first goal for the club(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
French pundit and former Premier League defender Frank Leboeuf says Bradley Barcola is not worth the $166 million (£123 million) transfer fee that Liverpool paid for him this summer.
However, the 58-year-old is a big fan of both Barcola and another Frenchman who moved to Anfield this summer, Jeremy Jacquet, who has started the new season brilliantly alongside Virgil van Dijk.
"Barcola wasn’t worth that money because nobody is — transfer fees have become astronomical across the board," Leboeuf explained. "That said, it's a great opportunity for Barcola to play for clubs like Lyon, PSG, and now Liverpool. However, he needs time to adapt because the Premier League is different.
"He will get less space than he had at PSG under Luis Enrique. Against Bournemouth, he looked a bit quiet and missed a chance in the first half, but he is still adjusting.
"He joined a team undergoing significant changes after a difficult transition. Liverpool signed Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, new full-backs, and the team is still finding its rhythm.
"They won 1-0 recently, but the performance wasn't convincing. It's a different Liverpool compared to the side that played with high intensity and verticality in previous years.
Bradley Barcola during Liverpool's win at Bournemouth
Bradley Barcola during Liverpool's win at Bournemouth(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
"It was not a good game and Bournemouth didn't help — that's not the Liverpool I know. They are working to find solutions and keep clean sheets, but Barcola needs better service and support to show what he can really do."
Barcola is one of a number of big-money attackers who have arrived in recent years as part of the plan to replace Mohamed Salah, along with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.
"Please don’t compare Barcola to Salah," Leboeuf added. "Salah had his own journey, struggling at Chelsea, building up at Roma, and eventually flourishing at Liverpool in a different team environment. Comparing different generations or team contexts is unfair. The players Salah had around him were different from the squad Barcola is playing with now.
"Liverpool also needs key midfielders like Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister to regain their best form. When those players aren't at their peak, it makes things harder for the entire forward line."
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At the other end of the pitch, Jacquet has been excellent. Replacing Ibrahima Konate at the back, there is an argument that Jacquet has been proving himself as an upgrade already.
"I watched his first few games for Liverpool, and he looks promising," Leboeuf, speaking to Mr Gamble, said. "Learning alongside Van Dijk will help him immensely.
"His national team call-up will boost his confidence further. He is strong, technically sound, and understands modern defensive duties well. It looks like a great signing.
"Let's give him time to develop. Wesley Fofana looked exceptional at Leicester before injuries impacted his momentum, so young defenders need consistent game time without excessive pressure. So far, Jacquet has done very well with three clean sheets in three games. I really like the guy."