Sports
Liverpool preparing huge offer to sign “world-class” forward
Despite winning the Premier League title last campaign during his debut year at the helm, Liverpool boss Arne Slot appears to be a man under mounting pressure.
The Dutchman took the reins from Jürgen Klopp after the German’s departure, subsequently managing to claim English top-flight glory without any major first-team additions.
After such a triumph, the hierarchy backed him in the summer transfer window, splashing around £450m on new signings – even breaking the English record twice in the process.
However, the new players have struggled to adapt to the demands on Merseyside, with the Reds already 14 points off the summit after the first 20 outings of 2025/26.
As a result, Slot could well be sacked in the months ahead, but it appears as though the board are prepared to give him one more window to make the changes he desires to the squad.
Liverpool to make £86m bid for attacking sensation
Despite the window only being open for a week, Liverpool have already been touted with a move for a whole host of players all across Europe – none more so than Juventus star Kenan Yildiz.
The Turkish international has set Serie A alight over the past couple of months, as seen by his superb tally of six goals and four assists in his first 18 league outings of the campaign.
It’s been reported in recent days that Slot’s men are just one of a number of Premier League clubs keeping a close eye on the 20-year-old’s progress – but any deal would likely be yet another huge investment.
Speaking of big-money transfers, the Reds are also closely monitoring the progress of French winger Bradley Barcola ahead of a potential move, that’s if recent rumours are to be believed.
According to one Spanish outlet, Slot’s men are preparing a €100m (£86m) bid for the PSG sensation who’s only started nine times in Ligue 1 this campaign.
The report states that the player could be tempted by a move to the Premier League to further his career and make the next step after winning multiple trophies last season.
However, the article also mentions that a summer deal appears more likely at this stage, but doesn’t rule out the possibility of a move being concluded this winter.
Why Barcola would be Ekitike 2.0 for Liverpool
As previously mentioned, Liverpool weren’t afraid to splash the cash during the summer transfer window, with Hugo Ekitiké just one of the players who completed a big-money move to Anfield.
The French attacker joined the club from German club Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported £69m, subsequently offering Slot a new talisman after the departure of Darwin Núñez and the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
He’s arguably been the most impressive addition out of the flurry of summer signings, as seen by his tally of 11 goals in his first 26 appearances across all competitions.
Eight of which have come in the Premier League, with such a tally making him the club’s top scorer despite the presence of the likes of Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak.
It’s safe to say Ekitike has already exceeded the expectations of the supporters on Merseyside, but the club could now look to complete a similar deal for Barcola this window.
The PSG star, who’s played alongside Ekitike for the national team, would follow a similar path of joining the Reds from another top-five league, whilst also embarking on his first taste of English football.
Barcola, who has been hailed as “one of the best wingers in the world” by scout Ben Mattinson, could provide his compatriot with added chances within the final third, with the pair potentially forming a deadly partnership in front of goal.
His underlying stats from the current campaign showcase the talent he possesses, with the 23-year-old undoubtedly one of Europe’s biggest talents at present.
Barcola, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by journalist Santi Iruleguy, has registered 4.4 progressive passes and 2.1 key passes per 90 in Ligue 1 this campaign.
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Bradley Barcola – Ligue 1 stats (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tally |
|
Games played |
14 |
|
Goals & assists |
5 |
|
Pass accuracy |
84% |
|
Progressive passes |
4.4 |
|
Progressive carries |
3.6 |
|
Successful take-ons |
2.2 |
|
Shots on target |
1.9 |
|
Passes into 18-yard box |
2.3 |
|
Carries into 18-yard box |
3.2 |
|
Stats via FBref |
|
The aforementioned figures showcase his incredible ability in finding a teammate in attacking areas, which in turn could allow Ekitike to bolster his own goalscoring tallies.
The winger’s creativity is further highlighted in his tally of 2.3 passes into the opposition box per 90, a figure which ranks him in the top 7% of all attackers in Europe this campaign.
However, the youngster is also able to glide past the opposition with the ball at his feet, as demonstrated by his tally of 4.6 progressive carries and 2.2 successful take-ons per 90.
Such numbers, coupled with his passing figures, showcase his phenomenal ability to create carnage in the attacking third – something which has been lacking at times on Merseyside this season.
Despite his creativity, Barcola has also managed to impress with his goalscoring figures in France’s top-flight, subsequently managing to register five goals from just nine starts to date.
£86m for a player of his calibre would be seen as another huge investment, but one that could secure Liverpool a top-level left-wing talent for at least the next decade.
The PSG star is a player who will be able to get fans off their seats, potentially offering a route out of the current slump and making the season somewhat respectable after the dismal decline.
Should he reach the level of Ekitike after such a transfer, it would be a phenomenal piece of business and one that could complete the Reds’ attacking puzzle.
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