Liverpool hold talks to sign “one of the best in the world”

The old saying goes that 12 months is a long time in football, something that has been evident at Liverpool Football Club under Arne Slot during the ongoing campaign.

The Dutchman's debut campaign saw the Reds lift the Premier League title, leading many to expect big things from the manager during his time at Anfield.

However, even after spending £450m in the summer transfer window, his side fell sharply in the 2025/26 campaign.

The Reds are 15 points adrift at the top of the division and are only fighting for a top-five finish after being eliminated from every other cup competition this season.

As a result, the pressure continues to mount on the manager's shoulders but it looks like he may be given a window next summer to make the necessary changes to his squad.

Liverpool are making a £62m move for their top summer target

After Mohamed Salah announced his departure from Liverpool at the end of the season, expectations are high for the management to replace the fan favourite.

RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande has been one player linked with a move to Anfield, with him being regarded as one of the club's most important targets this summer.

However, any deal for the Ivorian international will be expensive, with the Bundesliga side said to be demanding €100m (£87m) for the youngster.

As a result, other options have now been targeted by the Reds' management, with PSG star Bradley Barcola another attacker currently being targeted in pre-season.

According to TEAMtalk, the Slot Men are starting to pay attention to the Frenchman if they miss out on Diomande's deal in the summer window.

The report also claims that the 23-year-old is fast emerging as the club's first target this summer, with a trade deal potentially on the cards.

TEAMtalk confirm that Liverpool have already made contact with PSG over Barcola's sale but have so far met with resistance. That, however, could change if Diomande moves to Paris. Indeed, the French champions are also battling Liverpool to secure his services.

A big spend will still need to be spent to secure the successful player's signature, but he could be available for a cut-price £62m when the transfer window opens.

Why Barcola will be a better signing than Diomande

As previously mentioned, Diomande continued to be considered one of Liverpool's top targets ahead of the summer window, but now faces serious competition from PSG for his services.

The 19-year-old has enjoyed a huge year in Germany this season, as evidenced by his impressive haul of 13 goals and eight assists in all competitions.

However, caution should be taken with any deal for the star, with this being his first campaign in Europe's top five leagues – which could make him questionable in one season.

That, combined with his huge transfer fee, could lead to a recipe for disaster for the Reds, as they try to avoid last summer's £450m spending spree.

As a result, Barcola could be an attractive option for the Slot men, especially considering his experience of flourishing in the Champions League in recent years.

“One of the best wingers in the world” according to Como scout Ben Mattinson, the French winger registered a combined seven goals and helped them to such a championship last season, which subsequently helped the Parisians to European glory over Inter Milan.

His experience in such competition is no doubt a big selling point, but he has managed to outplay Diomande in many key areas during the ongoing campaign.

He achieved a 48% shot on target accuracy rate in Ligue 1 this campaign, while also registering an impressive 1.8 shots per 90 targets – both marks higher than those of the Ivorian.

The aforementioned figures have seen him score 10 goals in France's top division, ranking him in the top 7% of strikers in this division.

Apart from his ability to score goals, Barcola has also been able to complete most of the passes he has attempted, while making a maximum number of 90 chances.

He has been a constant nuisance for opposition teams in recent months, as evidenced by his average of 8.8 touches per 90 opposition tackles.

As with his shots on target, it also puts him amongst other players in Ligue 1, with the defender receiving more touches than 97% of other players in his position.

The threat comes largely from his success, as evidenced by his successful dribbles of 2.1 per 90, which allowed him to gain air in the box and often score.

Despite his success, many fans still prefer a move for Diomande this summer – especially given the constant links to the Ivorian's contract.

However, the Reds management desperately need to put all their focus on moving Barcola, and the Frenchman is a top-flight star in need of a new challenge.

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