FC Barcelona - Barca - FCB
As per the latest transfer news, Liverpool have Barcelona’s Marc Bernal firmly on their radar. A final decision on his future is expected after his playing time is reviewed next June.
Why Liverpool like Marc Bernal
As reported by Spanish journalist Juan Jesus, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola rates the young holding midfielder very highly. He posted the claim on X on October 2, adding that Atletico Madrid also follow the player. Coach Diego Simeone is also a fan of his game, and Liverpool are reportedly eyeing a deal in 2027.
Marc Bernal came through La Masia and has made the first team squad, despite a 383-day ACL layoff. The 19-year-old has played 44 games for Barcelona in all competitions so far. He has 5 goals and 3 assists. His first goal for the club came late in a 3-0 win over Mallorca on 7 February 2026. He has won La Liga with Barcelona in each of the last 2 seasons. He played only 3 league games in the first of them, before his injury.
Bernal’s 2026/27 stats at Barcelona so far, as per FOTMOB:
Competition Matches Assists Duels Won(%) Successful passes(%)
La Liga 7 2 61% 88.1%
UCL 1 0 – –
Barcelona stance on a possible sale
Bernal signed a new contract in September 2025, and it runs until the summer of 2029. The deal has a release clause of €500m. That gives the club control, and Jesus says it would only sell if Bernal asks to leave. In seven La Liga games, he has made 13 tackles and 24 defensive contributions. That is nearly two tackles and more than three defensive contributions per match. He has also set up two goals but has not scored this season.
Jesus says that if Bernal stays unhappy with his role, a full sale is more likely than a loan. With almost three seasons left on his deal, Barcelona can afford to wait for the right offer. The club added that clause in September 2024, a month after his ACL injury, so it backed him early. A 2027 move would also give Liverpool a full season to see how he copes with limited minutes.
FC Barcelona - Barca - FCB
Bernal chances of playing time under Flick
The main problem for Bernal is the strong group of midfielders ahead of him, including summer signing Rodri. Jesus names Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Rodri as untouchables, although De Jong has not played this season. Even so, Hansi Flick has not made Bernal his first choice in the holding role.
So far, Bernal has made only three starts in LaLiga and played just 27 minutes in the Champions League. A young player needs regular football to grow, and those totals leave little room for it. As a holding midfielder, his job is to shield the defence, win the ball early and keep play moving. Under Flick, Barcelona play a high defensive line, so the holding player must read danger quickly. Iraola built his Premier League reputation on aggressive pressing, so Bernal’s early ball wins would suit his plan at Anfield.
Jesus says Bernal wants to convince Flick, and the next few months will decide how this story ends. While De Jong recovers from injury, the young midfielder has a real chance to win more starts. A strong run would leave Barcelona with little reason to listen to offers. A quiet spell could instead open the door for Liverpool in 2027.
Also Read: Alejandro Balde could be next Barcelona star heading to Liverpool