Arjun Menon
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Bradley Barcola displayed a trait in training that left his France squad teammates stunned, and it is precisely the quality that could make him one of the most attractive targets Liverpool pursues this summer.
Giroud’s Verdict on the PSG Winger
The Paris Saint-Germain winger has been linked with a move to Anfield for over a year. When Barcola first entered France’s senior setup in 2024, following an encouraging debut season at the Parc des Princes, Olivier Giroud was taken aback by the 23-year-old’s demeanor around established internationals.
“He’s a shy guy in the dressing room. But he’s very intelligent. You have some people who talk a lot. But the guy who is shy…they see everything and, afterwards, if you give advice to that guy, he knows what he has to do.
“He has always been discreet off the field. He is someone who speaks little…What surprised me about him, and about today’s young players, is how confident they are during their early training sessions. Especially him.
“From the start, he showed what he’s capable of. You can see the potential. He still has room to grow, but he’s already very skilled in dribbling and penetration.”
— Olivier Giroud, L’Equipe column, April 2024
World Cup 2026 Confirmed the Potential
That composure translated directly onto the World Cup 2026 stage. Barcola doubled his international goal tally to six during the tournament, scoring in wins over Senegal and Sweden before coming off the bench to score in France’s third-place play-off defeat to England. Giroud, working as a BBC pundit throughout the competition in the United States, would have found little reason for surprise watching his former compatriot perform at that level.
Liverpool’s Transfer Pursuit Gains Urgency
Barcola is considered a primary target for Andoni Iraola’s side, a pursuit that gained further momentum after RB Leipzig‘s Yan Diomande reportedly agreed to join Real Madrid. With another candidate for the Mohamed Salah successor role taken off the board, Liverpool’s interest in the PSG man is only set to intensify.
Reports from France have suggested Barcola has no intention of signing a contract extension with PSG this summer despite being offered talks. Le Parisien has also reported that he equally has no intention of forcing an exit from the club. That position complicates matters for Liverpool, though the club and Iraola may well view a player unwilling to agitate for a transfer as a sign of professional integrity rather than an obstacle.
Read also: Real Madrid Agree Personal Terms with RB Leipzig Winger Yan Diomande as PSG Exit Race
Premier League Switch on the Horizon
Like Giroud, who made his own move from Ligue 1 to the Premier League with Arsenal and later Chelsea, Barcola could be making that same transition in the coming weeks. His unshakeable nerve around world-class competition, evident from his very first France training sessions, may be the attribute that defines him most at the next level. Stay with TipsGG for the latest updates on this transfer story as it develops.