Liverpool make contact to sign £100m winger

Supposing Liverpool get themselves a new centre-forward this summer, Arne Slot has the potential to forge a truly special outfit down Anfield Road, capable of dominating European football for many years to come.

Liverpool have already wrapped up deals for Bayer Leverkusen duo Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, while today is Tuesday, and it’s now Milos Kerkez week.

Without question, FSG aren’t spinning their wheels this summer, acting with intent to secure the core of Slot’s squad over the coming years.

While signing a centre-forward is very much on the radar, Darwin Nunez’s sale to Napoli must be finalised (Saudi Arabian suitors are also keen) before forward movement can take place on that front.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are being forced to contend with the possibility of losing one of their star forwards in Luis Diaz.

Why Liverpool could sell Luis Diaz

Back at the start of the month, Diaz spoke of his future on Merseyside, spoke of discussions held with potential suitors. He called it a natural part of the transfer window, especially in the earlier stages. He’s right.

Barcelona have a historic interest that they tried to act on, but Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes retorted in the negative when they made their approach. Barca, it’s felt, don’t have the financial sway to meet FSG’s demands. Diaz is one of the best wingers in Europe, after all.

However, Bayern Munich do have some moolah lying about and have reportedly since made their own enquiry for the 28-year-old Colombian, who scored 17 goals and supplied eight assists for the English champions in 2024/25. Cody Gakpo is also on the German giants’ wishlist.

Diaz is entering the next-to-last year of his Liverpool contract, but he will only be sold if a fitting proposal is tabled. Something in the region of €80m (£68m), perhaps.

Should Diaz go, though, he’d need to be replaced.

It must be stressed that the probability of this one coming to fruition is low, but according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are interested in signing Bradley Barcola this summer.

In fact, FSG have already made an official enquiry as they look to sign the silky Paris Saint-Germain star. However, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are also keen on the winger, who has emerged as one of the leading forwards in Europe over the past year.

As such, PSG have responded to calls by stating the 22-year-old is not for sale. Though it’s not explicitly stated, Bailey suggests Liverpool would be willing to fork out another £100m this summer, while discussing the intrigue surrounding Barcola.

Why Liverpool want Bradley Barcola

If one of Liverpool’s biggest talents in Diaz leaves, a fitting replacement will be needed to balance the output and ensure Mohamed Salah is not encumbered by even more responsibility than he carried last term, albeit to a title-winning effect.

Barcola could certainly be that man, for the rising star has proven himself capable of taking the step from good prospect to world-class superstar under Luis Enrique’s wing at the Parc des Princes, scoring 14 goals and supplying ten assists across just 27 league starts in 2024/25, creating 18 big chances and averaging 1.5 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

Joining PSG from Ligue 1 rivals Lyon in 2023 for a €45m (about £38m) fee, Barcola has only gone from strength to strength in a Parisian shirt, principally fielded off the left flank but also having tasted actually on the right and in a central berth.

Were he to take Diaz’s left wing spot (with the possibility of acting like the more experienced man in a false-nine-type role), Barcola would surely forge an incredible alliance with Wirtz, whose “generational” ball-playing quality – as has been commented on by journalist Chris Stonadge – would see the Frenchman picked out in promising position with frightening regularity.

Moreover, Wirtz’s off-the-ball intelligence is an impressive thing too, and as Barcola utilises his rapidity down the wing, the Germany international can weave into space and collect a pass, strike on goal.

Wirtz will bring creativity and a bouncing athletic style to Anfield, but Barcola would magnify that and then some through his fleet-footedness and electric dribbling, ranked as he was among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last term for goal contributions, the top 9% for progressive carries and the top 7% for goal-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Think Diaz, but even more energetic, even more potent in the final third. Barcola will collect the ball and move into the danger area at breakneck pace, making inroads into enemy defensive territory after sweeping passes from, you guessed it, Wirtz.

Bagging the German is incredible enough for Slot’s project, but if a budding superstar in Barcola can be signed as well, there’s no telling how bright the future might be for the Premier League champions.

PSG might have issued an emphatic no to hungry suitors, but that hardly means a move couldn’t be brokered, particularly if his reported £100m price tag is met.

Any move for Barcola hinges on Diaz’s (or Gakpo’s) summer sale, and if such an eventuality does come about, Barcola might just be the perfect replacement.

He’s yet to realise his potential, and he’s already “one of the best wingers in the world”, as has been said by analyst Ben Mattinson. Liverpool need to get it done.