Fabrizio Romano’s latest update has pushed Bradley Barcola back into the middle of the market. The Paris Saint Germain winger is said to be no longer untouchable, with contract talks on standby and Liverpool still very much in the picture. That is the important part here: this is not a done deal, but it is no longer a closed one either.

Romano's update on Barcola

Romano said, "The reality, guys, is that Barcola is not untouchable." He also said Liverpool and Arsenal are both calling for him, and that Liverpool have had the player at the very top of their shortlist since the summer transfer window 2025.

He added that PSG’s new deal talks are "completely, completely on standby", with no agreement over a renewal at the moment. Romano also said PSG would ask for important money if they sold. That is enough to keep this story moving, even if it still sits well short of a transfer breakthrough.

Barcola’s form gives the interest some logic. He has already made 5 World Cup appearances, played 285 minutes and posted a 7.12 average rating in the tournament. He has also hit 7.9 in two recent outings. Those are the sort of numbers that keep a winger on elite club shortlists, especially when a selling club is not moving quickly on a new deal.

The case for and against a move

Marcel Desailly has a different view. He has argued that Barcola should stay at PSG, saying the winger is still young and needs time to grow into the system. Desailly also raised concerns about his defensive discipline, which is the old warning sign that tends to follow attacking wingers when Premier League talk starts up.

That criticism has a limit, though. It is one thing to argue that Barcola should keep developing in Paris, and another to ignore the fact that two major clubs are already circling while PSG’s talks stay stalled. Liverpool’s interest has not gone away, and Romano’s update makes the pursuit look live rather than theoretical.

For now, the key detail is simple enough. Barcola is available to be discussed, PSG are not rushing to tie him down, and Liverpool are still watching closely while Mohamed Salah's future stays unresolved. The next real clue will come when PSG either restart those talks or let the market noise build further.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →