David Ornstein says Bradley Barcola would be open to a move if the right opportunity arose, which is enough to make Liverpool's interest feel real. He also said Paris Saint Germain are realistic about keeping him, not adamant he will stay, and that the deal is not at an advanced stage. Ornstein's line was that it would likely develop after the tournament.
Ornstein's case for the move
The strongest part of Ornstein's update is simple: Barcola has two years left on his PSG contract, he is not a regular starter, and he wants to be one. Ornstein put it plainly: "Liverpool really like Bradley Barcola. PSG would like to keep him, but they are realistic. He has only two years left on his contract. He's not a regular starter, and he wants to be, so I suspect he would be open to a move if the right opportunity arose."
That is why this does not read like idle speculation. Barcola's PSG league-start count last season was 21, which is a decent way of saying he was involved but not untouchable. He still produced 39 goals and 37 assists in 152 appearances, so this is not a fringe player being linked for the sake of it. It is a high-level winger with numbers that explain why elite clubs would look at him.
The fit problem for Liverpool
The complication is the side of the pitch. Ornstein said Barcola mainly plays off the left while Liverpool are looking to replace Salah on the right. He added: "If they do follow through with this, is he happy to play off the right?"
Danny Murphy said something similar, arguing that Barcola is more comfortable on the left than the right and that someone more used to the right would probably be a better option. That is the real question here. Liverpool may well like the player, but liking the player is only half the job if the role is wrong.
The price makes the decision harder. Ornstein said, "The price would be very high. When you see someone like Elliot Anderson moving for £116m – Barcola's fee is going to be higher." There has been some disagreement around the exact valuation, but either way the point is the same, this would sit in premium territory for a winger who is still being judged as a left-sided attacker.
For now, the story is interest rather than movement. Liverpool finished 5th in the Premier League last season, so attacking upgrades will be part of the conversation, but Barcola only works if the club are convinced he can do the job on the right or shift the whole plan around him. The next concrete step is after the tournament, when the talk around PSG and Liverpool can become more than that.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
