PSG fixed Bradley Barcola’s transfer fee after turning down contract talks – and it almost seems like a mistake!
Bradley Barcola might be ready to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer after shining for France at the World Cup, but his price will likely need to come down.
Since the transfer window opened in June, there’s been a lot of talk about where Barcola’s future lies. The 23-year-old was unhappy when coach Luis Enrique didn’t start him in the Champions League final against Arsenal. Barcola only played the last 37 minutes during extra time, as PSG won on penalties to claim their second straight European title.
Last season, Enrique dropped Barcola in the pecking order because PSG have so much attacking talent, like Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Still, Barcola appeared 49 times in all competitions, scoring 13 goals and providing 7 assists.
After being upset about not starting in the final, news came out that PSG were interested in signing Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. The 19-year-old, who’s also linked with Liverpool and Real Madrid, would likely make it harder for Barcola to get regular starts next season.
At the start of July, Barcola said he would decide his future after the World Cup, where France lost in the semi-finals to Spain. Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, the exciting forward has chosen not to renew his PSG contract and is open to moving this summer.
This will definitely catch Liverpool’s eye, as they’re very keen on signing him. The main issue has always been agreeing on the price with PSG, and recent reports suggest the club is asking for a huge fee.
This summer has already seen several huge transfer records broken. Manchester City signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, and Chelsea smashed the record again by paying £117 million for Morgan Rogers.
PSG seem to be using these deals to set Barcola’s price, valuing him at around €170 million (£145 million), according to Ben Jacobs on X. That amount would break the Premier League record, which Liverpool currently hold after signing Alexander Isak for £125 million last summer.
However, Jacobs adds that Liverpool hope to lower that very high asking price, as several clubs have already shown interest. Barcola is an amazing talent and one of Europe’s best forwards, but he’s probably not worth as much as PSG are asking.
If that price goes through, he would become the third most expensive player ever, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. It’s clear PSG don’t have to sell him right now, but if Barcola pushes to leave, it will be interesting to see if PSG will rethink his value.