Liverpool identify ’dream’ Premier League alternative for €170m Barcola

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Liverpool are working on a Premier League target as an alternative to dream wing target Bradley Barcola.

The Reds have been quoted a British record £145 million (€170m) for the PSG star, and with no guarantee that PSG will sell, the Anfield club are looking at alternatives.

Andoni Iraola’s side have shown they will not be bullied over valuations, having refused to meet RB Leipzig’s demands for Yan Diomande, who subsequently agreed personal terms with PSG but now appears destined to move to Real Madrid.

Current ETV

Bradley Barcola

F, AM (L)

PSG

Bradley Barcola

F, AM (L)

PSG

€63.6M

ETV Range

€57.2M - €70M

View full profile

Liverpool have already bought Victor Munoz from Osasuna in a £34.5m (€40m) deal this summer, while they have one of the Premier League’s most exciting talents in Rio Ngumoha as well as Netherlands international Cody Gakpo, so are not in a desperate position.

However, they are looking at other possibilities should a move for Barcola fail to materialise.

Rayan is Liverpool’s ‘dream’ target

Liverpool have earmarked Bournemouth winger Rayan as a “dream” alternative to the France international, according to TalkSport.

There appears a realisation that the Brazil international will be a difficult target to secure given that he has a release fee of more than £85m (€100m), which does not come into effect until next year.

The Reds desire to sign the 19-year-old has been underpinned by the teenager’s spectacular performance in the Premier League since arriving at the Cherries in January. He has scored five goals in 15 appearances, chipping in with two further assists. Along with team-mate Eli Junior Kroupi, this has seen him pinpointed as one of the brightest talents in world football.

Certainly, this scoring rate suggests that he has the scoring power to replace Mohamed Salah at Anfield.

Indeed, the fact that Rayan habitually operates on the right gives him an edge over the more typically left-sided Barcola in this regard.

Iraola confirms winger desire

Iraola, who knows Rayan intimately from his time at Bournemouth, has already admitted that he wants a winger before the close of the transfer window.

“There are obvious situations that we know where we need to sign players. A winger, for example – we definitely need to sign a winger,” he said.

“But there are other situations that we will have to analyse what the market gives you, what’s the cost, how we also see the players we have.

“We have some tricky positions where we have injured players that we trust but it is still not the ideal situation.

“It will depend on a lot of things.”

Liverpool have only made one signing this summer, with the arrival of Munoz the only major deal completed by the Anfield club, who have nevertheless shown an appetite to be active in the market.