Latest news with #Barcola
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool transfer news: Bradley Barcola truth emerges as star set for £50m move
Liverpool have already forked out more than £250million on seven new signings and Arne Slot is ready to continue spending big as the Reds look to defend their Premier League title Liverpool have enjoyed a busy summer so far as they look to build on last season's Premier League title triumph. Having made just one senior signing last summer, they have spent more than £250million on seven new faces this year. Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi and Freddie Woodman have all made the move to Anfield, while funds have been generated by the sales of Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Tyler Morton and Nat Phillips. Even more incomings and outgoings are expected before the transfer window slams shut and Mirror Football has taken a look at some of the latest news and rumours from in and around Anfield... Nunez exit Darwin Nunez is set to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal after they agreed a fee with Liverpool worth an initial £46m but rising beyond £50m. Al-Hilal have beaten AC Milan to Nunez's signature, with the forward now set to fly to Germany where the club are currently training to undergo a medical. The 26-year-old is set to earn around £400,000-per-week in Saudi Arabia. And Nunez's impending exit means Liverpool are now expected to move forward in their pursuit of Alexander Isak, having already seen a £110m bid rejected by Newcastle. Barcola stance Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola has been linked with Liverpool as a potential alternative to Alexander Isak, but Mirror Football understands a move is unlikely. Liverpool are admirers of Barcola, but believe PSG are unlikely to let him leave and are not planning to make a move for him as a result. The club also believe that signing a player like Barcola, 22, could block the emergence of 16-year-old prospect Rio Ngumoha. Guehi boost Liverpool appear to have received a boost in their pursuit of Marc Guehi after Newcastle turned their attention to an alternative target. Both Liverpool and Newcastle have been heavily linked with the Crystal Palace defender, but Sky Sports Germany are reporting that the Magpies are now pursuing a deal for AC Milan's Malick Thiaw. The report states that Newcastle have made a written offer for Thiaw worth around £26m. Italian side Como are also interested in the defender, having had an offer worth around £22m rejected last month.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Liverpool could line up with Bradley Barcola in four-way attacking dream
If Liverpool is unable to sign Newcastle forward Alexander Isak — though all signs point to the Swedish international ending up at Anfield — the club may pivot to PSG winger Bradley Barcola. The shifty 22-year-old French winger from PSG produced his most productive season in club football a season ago and helped the Parisian capture a European treble. Barcola, weighed alongside Real Madrid forward Rodrygo as a potential attacking option should the Isak move fall through, would not be cheap. PSG paid Olympique Lyon €45 million ($52.4M) for the winger in 2023 and would likely seek a fee in the vicinity of €100 ($116.4M) million to sell him this summer. READ MORE: Liverpool handed double boost before Community Shield as Virgil van Dijk spotted READ MORE: Darwin Nunez showed his true colors with trophy remark as Liverpool transfer exit looms Barcola's arrival makes a little more intuitive sense for Liverpool coach Arne Slot's current squad construction than Isak's. He's a right-footer who primarily lines up on the left but has experience playing on both flanks. Let's explore some potential XI. Playing Barcola would not impact the back five, slated to be Alisson in goal behind a back four of Jeremie Frimpong (or Conor Bradley), Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Milos Kerkez. Assuming Slot plays a combination of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai (as he's lined up in preseason) deep, we're left with four slots. How does Barcola profile? He produced a massive 0.97 expected non-penalty goals+assists per 90 minutes in the league last year, one of the best marks in Europe. He's a strong ball carrier (5.45 per 90, 91st percentile in Europe's top five leagues) but a poor progressive passer (3.33, 40th). He's better as the recipient of someone else's run (think Florian Writz): his 15.17 progressive passes received rank in the 99th percentile (per Fbref). It makes sense to play Barcola on the left while Wirtz plays the No. 10 role. New signings Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah complete the forward line. The latter two are elite in transition. READ MORE: Liverpool told it could upgrade on Ibrahima Konate for free amid contract wait READ MORE: Florian Wirtz justifies $156M price tag as he receives huge honor just weeks after Liverpool move Barcola's arrival would complicate a path to the first team for 2025 preseason standout Rio Ngumoha, who is much more of a pure ball-progressor. He is much more of a direct mirror to Cody Gakpo than a replacement for the outgoing Luis Diaz. This makes Barcola a better understudy for Salah on the right when the 33-year-old inevitably rests throughout the season to preserve his body (and while he's gone during AFCON). SAYS: It speaks volumes that Slot was willing to jettison Diaz once the signing of Wirtz (a similar profile) was secured. Liverpool is looking for a final-third receiver, not an initiator. Barcola is a good fit, a good age, and makes more sense than Isak (who would leave Ekitike in a foreign position at left wing on occasion). He's a good fit, but both Gakpo and Ngumoha would rightfully be upset. His near-overlapping profile with Gakpo should lead Liverpool to pass in favor of a pure goal-poacher like Isak. However, it's smart Slot is thinking about versatile players (Gakpo only lines up on the left at this point).
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool prioritising move for Alexander Isak despite interest in Bradley Barcola
According to a report from Foot Mercato, Liverpool are prioritising a move for Alexander Isak (25) from Newcastle United as they aim to bolster their attacking options before the window shuts. This is despite the emergence of their interest in Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola (22). The Premier League champions have recently sanctioned the sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, and Darwin Nunez looks set to depart for the Saudi Pro League. As a result, Arne Slot plans to add another attacking reinforcement to his ranks despite already signing Hugo Ékitiké and Florian Wirtz this summer. Barcola second choice If Liverpool are unable to pull off a deal to sign Isak, after already seeing one offer rejected, the Merseyside outfit are expected to make a move for Barcola. The French international is a long-term target for the Anfield club. Real Madrid's Rodrygo is also viewed as a potential option, but he ranks further down their list of options. GFFN | Liam Wraith
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool transfer 'alternative' left Olivier Giroud stunned with his attitude
Liverpool are expected to still have a busy final few weeks of the summer transfer window as Alexander Isak's saga drags on, with alternatives being named while Newcastle hold firm Former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud hailed the attitude of Bradley Barcola, the PSG star linked with a move to Liverpool. The Reds are all in on Alexander Isak, despite seeing a £110million bid rejected already, but Kop chiefs are big fans of the 22-year-old too. Barcola joined PSG in 2023 and took on the intimidating task of replacing his compatriot Kylian Mbappe, when he left for Real Madrid last summer - a responsibility he certainly hasn't shirked. While Barcola was involved in a permanent battle for a starting place under Luis Enrique, he scored 21 goals and bagged 19 assists in all competitions as PSG won Ligue 1 and the Champions League last season. French outlet L'Equipe has claimed that Liverpool are keen on Barcola, but Mirror Football understands that while there's admiration at Anfield, there'll be no move at this time. Liverpool are pushing for Isak, while Paris Saint-Germain aren't willing to let him leave this summer regardless - while Barcola himself isn't pushing to move. Suggestions he could be an alternative to Isak - allowing Hugo Ekitike to exclusively be used as the starting No.9 - aren't right, with Liverpool showing in the past that they won't pivot to secondary targets if they don't secure their first choice. There is also the matter of giving Rio Ngumoha, the 16-year-old sensation, room into which to grow. That's not to say that Barcola won't be of interest down the line however. And French icon Giroud has given the youngster a glowing recommendation, praising his confidence after Barcola made a £43.5m move to the French Champions. "He's a shy guy in the dressing room," Giroud said in his column for L'Equipe in April 2024. "But he's very intelligent. You have some people who talk a lot. But the guy who is shy… they see everything and, afterwards, if you give advice to that guy, he knows what he has to do. "He has always been discreet off the field. He is someone who speaks little… What surprised me about him, and about today's young players, is how confident they are during their early training sessions. Especially him. "From the start, he showed what he's capable of. You can see the potential. He still has room to grow, but he's already very skilled in dribbling and penetration." Former Lyon assistant manager Franck Passi echoed Giroud's comments that Barcola cuts a reserved nature, yet his talent is boundless, as is his adaptability. 'He's a shy guy in the dressing room. But he's very intelligent," Passi said to The Athletic. "You have some people who talk a lot. But the guy who is shy… they see everything and, afterwards, if you give advice to that guy, he knows what he has to do. 'Today, because he's full of confidence, he is able to do other things and showing all his skills when cutting inside. We see his ability in front of the near post; he can score goals, can cross, can play a key pass. He can do anything." With Darwin Nunez on the brink of a move to Al-Hilal, Luis Diaz already departing for Bayern Munich and the untimely tragic death of Diogo Jota, there has been a need for attacking reinforcements at Anfield. The futures of Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa are also in doubt.
Metro
4 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Liverpool targeting £87m star as back-up transfer option to Alexander Isak
Liverpool are plotting a transfer move for Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola in the event that their bid to sign top target Alexander Isak ends in failure. The Premier League champions had appeared to have got the bulk of their transfer business over the line having secured deals for Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. But the landscape changed dramatically as Isak dropped a bombshell at St James' Park, with the 25-year-old forward informing Newcastle of his desire to explore a fresh challenge elsewhere. Sensing an opportunity, Liverpool wasted little time in testing Newcastle's resolve with an opening offer of £110million – plus adds-on – for the Sweden international, which was rejected out of hand. The Magpies are believed to be holding out for a fee in the region of £150m for their star striker and the Reds are expected to return with a follow-up bid in due course. In The Mixer: Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week – click here and sign up before Friday to make sure you don't miss the first edition. With speculation mounting over Isak's future, the attacker was ordered to train separately from Eddie Howe's squad and stay away from a barbecue at Newcastle's training ground on Wednesday. According to L'Equipe, Liverpool have been forced to 'consider their options' while Newcastle dig in their heels over Isak and Paris Saint-Germain forward Barcola has emerged as a potential back-up target. It's claimed Liverpool are yet to give up hope of landing Isak, but Barcola is one of two names – along with Real Madrid's Rodrygo – that 'stand out' should a move for Newcastle's talisman prove impossible. The Merseyside giants are said to have been 'following Barcola for a long time' and could take advantage of this 'loyalty' to convince the winger to move to swap Paris for Anfield. However, the report suggests PSG are unlikely to let Barcola leave for anything less than €100 million (£87m) this summer. Barcola's current contract at the French capital runs through to June 2028. The 22-year-old has scored 26 goals in 103 games since joining PSG from Lyon back in 2023, helping the club win seven pieces of silverware, including last season's Champions League trophy in that time. In May, Barcola was named in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year along with eight of his PSG team-mates. More Trending Bayern Munich have also registered a strong interest in Barcola in recent months, but Luis Enrique has been keen to shut down any suggestion that the France international could be on the move. 'Bradley Barcola's future? I have no doubt he'll remain our player,' the PSG head coach told reporters in June. 'We like the fact that our players are interesting to other clubs. But he's one of those young players we've been banking on. 'I expect him to play here for many more years.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand sends clear message to Benjamin Sesko doubters MORE: Enzo Maresca sends message to Nicolas Jackson over Chelsea transfer speculation MORE: Man Utd make contact with Brighton over deal to sign £100m star
