Liverpool are actively chasing a summer move for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, as the 22-year-old Frenchman holds off on signing a new deal at the Parc des Princes. The timing is ideal for the Reds; with Mohamed Salah confirmed to leave at the end of the season, Arne Slot has a massive void to fill on the right wing and needs a solution fast.
Why Barcola’s numbers make sense for Liverpool?
Barcola has racked up 10 goals and 1 assist in 22 Ligue 1 games this season, averaging 0.75 goal involvements every 90 minutes. While those stats are impressive enough to catch any top club’s eye, his deeper metrics are what really stand out.
His non-penalty expected goals (npxG) per 90 sits at 0.72, bringing his total npxG to 10.63, putting him in the top 1% of all Ligue 1 players. He also averages 0.21 expected assists per 90, which ranks in the top 78% of the league. Although seven of his ten goals were scored at home, his three goals on the road prove he can be a threat anywhere.
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How does Barcola’s passing fit Slot’s system?
It isn’t just about the goals. Barcola attempts around 36.90 passes per game with an 84.19% success rate, showing a level of technical composure you don’t often see in young wingers. He averages 2.24 key passes per match, meaning he’s constantly creating chances rather than just being a kick-and-run wide player.
Slot likes to build attacks through organised pressing and quick passing out wide, and Barcola is that exact profile. Liverpool need a player who possesses the pace with smart decision-making, and the data suggests Barcola has plenty of both.
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Liverpool find themselves in a tough spot in the Premier League right now, fighting for a top-four finish with an attacking lineup that’s starting to look a bit thin. Losing Salah means losing 25 to 30 goal involvements a year, and nobody currently in the squad is ready to step up and match that. At just 22, Barcola is already putting up elite numbers in a top European league. He is exactly what Liverpool need, which is a young, proven, and available right when they need him most.
