Liverpool eye rising French star as potential Alexander Isak alternative

Manager Eddie Howe has called the situation “complex,” with Newcastle missing out on a string of targets, including Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Bryan Mbeumo and most recently Benjamin Sesko.

Amid the uncertainty, Liverpool is said to be monitoring Barcola closely. The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakout second season at PSG, registering 21 goals and 19 assists in all competitions. 

His pace, dribbling and creativity from wide areas have made him one of Ligue 1's standout young talents, drawing comparisons to Kingsley Coman and Ousmane Dembele.

While Isak remains the priority, some outlets have described Barcola as a “dream winger” for Liverpool, particularly with Mohamed Salah approaching his mid-thirties. 

PSG, however, is expected to resist any sale, valuing Barcola at around $120M. No formal talks have taken place, and PSG are reportedly in early discussions to extend his contract.

Liverpool’s interest is also tempered by the emergence of 16-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha, signed from Chelsea, with the club wary of blocking his development. This could limit their pursuit of Barcola unless the Isak deal collapses.

The move would mark part of a broader recruitment strategy targeting versatile, high-upside attackers. Liverpool has already landed Ekitike, while the sale of Darwin Nunez has freed up funds to chase further targets.

Arne Slot’s side has spent roughly $350M this summer on Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milo Kerkez, and shows no signs of slowing down. Whether they secure Isak, pivot to Barcola, or both could define their already elite attacking setup for the 2025-26 season.