Liverpool have been forced to recalibrate their summer recruitment strategy after reports of a verbal agreement with Bradley Barcola were firmly rejected, prompting the club to escalate interest in Bournemouth forward Rayan as their dream alternative.
The Reds have already secured Spanish international winger Victor Muñoz from Osasuna for €40 million, yet the hierarchy remains convinced that another elite wide player is essential. Mohamed Salah’s impending departure at the end of the season has left a significant void on the right flank, and sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Arne Slot are determined not to enter the new campaign under-resourced in attack.
Initial focus centred on RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, with Liverpool reportedly tabled a €100 million offer. That pursuit collapsed once it became clear the young forward preferred a move elsewhere, with Real Madrid now closing in on a deal. Attention then swung decisively to Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola.
Multiple outlets claimed the 23-year-old France international, contracted until June 2028, had given verbal consent to a switch to Anfield. Loic Tanzi of L’Equipe reported that Barcola had agreed terms orally with Liverpool. Italian media went further, suggesting a deal was effectively done. Those claims have now been dismantled.
Fabrizio Romano was unequivocal on X: “Bradley Barcola wants to join Liverpool and that is not in doubt, as reported since May. The #LFC project is his top priority – but any financial agreement has not been approved, finalised or signed. This is viewed as a natural step but the right timing. Player-side talks will take place in the coming days.”
talkSPORT echoed the caution, describing suggestions of agreed personal terms as “premature” while confirming Liverpool are preparing to lodge a first formal bid. PSG, however, have set a valuation of €170 million. Liverpool are understood to view Barcola as the ideal scenario but have no intention of meeting an inflated asking price in a market already distorted by soaring fees.
That stance has accelerated contingency planning. According to talkSPORT, Bournemouth’s Rayan is regarded as the “dream alternative.” The Brazilian forward carries a release clause in the region of £85 million, though the clause itself only becomes active in 2027. Any move this summer would therefore require Liverpool to negotiate a higher fee than the contractual figure.
Other names remain on the shortlist. Chelsea’s Pedro Neto, Köln’s Said El Mala and Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo have all been linked as viable Plan B or Plan C options should the Barcola talks stall completely.
The urgency was underlined at the weekend by head coach Andoni Iraola. Speaking to reporters, he said: “It’s very difficult to put a specific number on how many players Liverpool might sign while the window is open. You always have to stay open to new opportunities that can improve the squad. There are clear situations where we know we need to recruit – for example the winger position. We definitely need to sign a winger. Other situations depend on what the market offers, the cost, and how we assess the players already here. We have some difficulties with injured players we trust, but the situation is not ideal. So it will depend on many factors.”
Liverpool’s preference remains clear: secure Barcola if the numbers can be made to work. Should PSG’s valuation prove immovable, the club is ready to pivot. Rayan’s profile – pace, directness and proven Premier League pedigree – aligns closely with the attributes Slot seeks. The £85 million clause may not yet be enforceable, but it has already focused minds at Anfield on what constitutes a realistic alternative.
The coming days will reveal whether Liverpool can bridge the gap with PSG or whether the dream Plan B becomes the primary target. Either way, the message from the training ground is unambiguous: another high-calibre wide attacker is non-negotiable.