Should Liverpool spend big on Barcola?

[BBC] Liverpool are preparing an offer for Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola , but with the French club reportedly valuing him at £145m, would he represent good value for money? The Merseysiders would be reluctant to pay a British record fee for a player who scored only 13 goals last season. However, the 23-year-old possesses a combination of attributes that would appeal to any club looking for an elite goalscoring wide player. Barcola's best season to date came in 2024-25, when he scored or assisted 39 goals, the ninth-highest total by any player in Europe's top five leagues. While that figure fell to 21 last season, many of his underlying metrics remained impressive Used primarily on the left flank, Barcola utilised his dribbling ability and pace to create shooting opportunities for himself. He was the only player in Europe's top five leagues to average more than two shot-ending carries per 90 minutes, defined as shots taken after carrying the ball for at least five metres. He also ranked highly for receiving the ball in dangerous areas, averaging nearly nine touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes. That placed him seventh among more than 1,500 eligible players, on a list headed by Barcelona star Lamine Yamal. Barcola was also 18th for expected goals, excluding penalties, an encouraging sign given that many of the players above him were recognised centre-forwards. He also ranked ninth for possession won in the final third - an important consideration with aggressive pressing central to Liverpool's approach under new head coach Andoni Iraola. PSG's dominance in France means those numbers require context and would not necessarily be repeatable in the Premier League. Overpaying for Barcola could also make it harder for the Reds to strengthen other areas of need, such as centre-back. But if the two-time Champions League winners can be persuaded to lower their eye-watering asking price, Barcola could prove a good fit for Iraola's side.