Liverpool have already had a transfer window that serves as a statement of intent to their rival Premier League teams that they aim to retain the title, and it seems that they have no intention of stopping yet.
Three of Liverpool's top ten most expensive transfers ever have come in this window, including club record signing Florian Wirtz for £100m plus £16m in potential add-ons. Arne Slot wants to further increase his attacking firepower, and his current main target is Newcastle's Alexander Isak.
At present, Newcastle have been rejecting Liverpool's advances for the Swedish striker. The Magpies had been looking to bring in a striker in the event Isak leaves, but top targets Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike went to Manchester United and Liverpool, respectively.
Slot hasn't given up on bringing in Isak yet, but he has identified his next target if the clubs can't come to an agreement.
Liverpool wants Barcola if they can't get Isak
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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano revealed that if Liverpool can't get Isak, Barcola will become their new top target. Romano hinted that this is a story that could grow over the next week. For the coming week, Liverpool will stick to their pursuit of Isak, but if that fails to develop, they are likely to switch their attention over to Barcola.
"They like Barcola, who doesn't? He's one of the best wingers in the world."
The 22-year-old is one of the hottest talents in Europe after registering seven goal involvements in PSG's journey to becoming Champions League winners, including an assist in the final. In all competitions, Barcola managed 35 goal involvements last season and was instrumental in his team winning the Quadruple.
Romano added that Isak or Barcola are unlikely to be the final deal that Liverpool completes this window, as they want to add "a quality centre back, a player with chances to develop".
Liverpool's Next Generation
Some Liverpool fans may be questioning why Barcola is the next transfer target if they fail to sign Isak, considering Isak is a traditional striker and Barcola, while he has played centre forward, is more of a winger. The answer may be that Barcola is not a replacement for Isak but is instead a replacement for Mohamad Salah.
While still performing at the top level, Salah is 33, and it's likely that either he is sold next summer or he leaves for free in 2027. Barcola could be seen as the long-term replacement for Salah, and if they can't sign Isak this year, they could bring Barcola in now and go back for Isak next summer.
Likewise, the new centre-back that Romano mentioned could also be a part of this new generation. Like Salah, Virgil Van Dijk looked at stages last season that he would leave on a free when his contract expires. He also signed a two-year deal and, at 34 years old, next summer may be Liverpool's last chance to sell him for a fee.
Similarly, Ibrahima Konate only has one year left on his current contract and could leave next summer, so a new centre-back could be a replacement for either of them.
The centre back that Romano mentioned is Parma's Giovanni Leoni, who has admitted to modeling his game on Van Dijk. Since both Barcola and Leoni share traits with important ageing members of the squad, they may be Arne Slot's ideal next generation. In this case, it wouldn't necessarily be Barcola or Isak but one this summer and the other next summer.