Liverpool’s search for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah has taken a new direction, with the Premier League club reportedly identifying PSG winger Bradley Barcola as their primary target ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The Merseyside club had initially pursued RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, submitting a reported €100 million bid for the 19-year-old. However, according to reports, Diomande has verbally agreed to a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain, effectively ending Liverpool’s interest in the teenager and prompting a swift shift in their recruitment strategy.
With PSG now set to secure Diomande’s signature, the French club’s hierarchy is reportedly more willing to sanction the departure of Barcola, creating a potential opening for Liverpool to negotiate a deal. The 23-year-old French international is also said to be open to leaving the Parc des Princes in search of more regular starting minutes, having faced consistent competition for places in a heavily stacked PSG attacking unit.
Barcola’s contract with the Ligue 1 champions runs until June 2028, and Liverpool are under no illusions about the financial commitment required to prise him away from the French capital. PSG are expected to demand a fee in the region of €80 million for the winger, according to reports.
Since joining PSG from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer of 2023, Barcola has established himself as one of European football’s most dynamic wide forwards. He played a contributing role in Luis Enrique’s squad as PSG claimed back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons — a run that underscores both his quality and the club’s depth at the position.
Liverpool’s recruitment approach reflects the scale of the task they face without Salah, who is departing Anfield after a trophy-laden spell that cemented his status as one of the club’s greatest ever players. Rather than seeking a direct like-for-like replacement for the Egyptian winger, the club are reportedly targeting physically dominant wide attackers with strong one-versus-one capability — a profile Barcola is considered to fulfil.
At 23, Barcola represents a significant long-term investment, and his experience at the highest level of European club football — including two Champions League winner’s medals — aligns with the standard Liverpool expect to maintain under their current project.
No formal bid has been reported at this stage, and Liverpool’s interest remains at the exploratory level, according to sources. Should a deal progress, it would represent one of the more significant transfer moves of the current summer window, with the fee and profile of the player reflecting the magnitude of filling Salah’s role on Merseyside.
