Europe’s elite circle as PSG battles to retain prized forward

Liverpool and Bayern Munich eye Barcola move

That rise has not gone unnoticed, though. Across Europe, several top clubs are monitoring Barcola's progress, and according to L'Equipe, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are among those considering future moves.

Liverpool, who spent a staggering £446.5M ($599.3M) last summer on the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, are believed to be keeping tabs on the Frenchman as they plan for the long term. 

Bayern, meanwhile, reportedly view Barcola as a natural fit alongside Harry Kane, Luis Diaz, Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry, a player capable of adding yet more world-class depth to their forward line.

For PSG, the growing interest has prompted swift action behind the scenes. The club has reportedly opened contract negotiations with Barcola in an effort to secure his long-term future and fend off potential suitors.

President Nasser Al-Khelaifi has made no secret of his desire to steer PSG away from the era of superstar signings and toward a more balanced, sustainable model built around young domestic talent, and Barcola embodies that vision perfectly. 

Still, with his value soaring and Europe's elite circling, PSG faces a familiar challenge of holding onto a young star just as he begins to fulfill his potential.

If it can tie him down, Barcola could become a defining figure in PSG's next era. If not, the club risks seeing another homegrown star slip away, this time to one of Europe's most powerful rivals.