Liverpool fans have been reminiscing over the past few days following the farewell at Anfield following the final game of the 2025/26 season against Brentford.
The trip was the final match for attacker Mohamed Salah and full-back Andy Robertson, who enjoyed great success in their respective eras on Merseyside.
Losing two experienced talents who played key roles in the Premier League title-winning team in 2024/25 will be a blow to Arne Slott and his staff.
But their departure could be a new opportunity for new players to build their own legacies and return the club to the pinnacle of England’s top flight.
Recruiters are already setting their sights high ahead of the summer transfer window, with a number of top-level talents on transfer shortlists.
Liverpool preparing to sign £60m European star
In recent days, Liverpool have become one of a number of clubs very keen to sign RB Leipzig winger Yann Diomande this summer.
PSG are also said to be strongly considering a big-money move, making the Ivorian international one of the most sought-after talents on the African continent.
The Bundesliga side are demanding a transfer fee in the region of €100m (about £87m) for the youngster, and any future signings will be expensive for slot players.
Diomande is not the only attacking option on the current shortlist of the hierarchy, with PSG star Bradley Barcola also mentioned as an alternative option.
Liverpool are said to be preparing the possibility of signing a Frenchman to strengthen their attacking line-up ahead of next season, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He also claims that the French club’s interest in Diomand could create a domino effect, with the 23-year-old potentially being allowed to leave if the Ivorian joins the Ligue 1 outfit.
As with the Leipzig star, any deal would be a huge investment for the Reds, with previous reports suggesting Luis Enrique’s side could pay an £87m fee for the left-winger this summer.
Why Barcola is a better contract than Diomande
It is well documented that Liverpool are interested in signing Diomande this summer, and given his strong form in the Bundesliga throughout the 2025/26 season, there is good reason to do so.
The 19-year-old only joined from Leganes last year for a reported £19 million and has embraced the demands of top-flight European football like a duck to water.
In 33 league appearances this season, the youngster scored a sensational 12 goals and provided nine assists, helping Ole Werner’s Leipzig side to a third-place finish.
Most total G&A in Bundesliga (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
player | tally |
harry kane | 41 |
michael orise | 34 |
Luis Diaz | 29 |
Deniz Undav | twenty five |
Christoph Baumgartner | twenty one |
Yann Diomand | 20 |
Andrei Kramaric | 20 |
Patrick Thicke | 19 |
However, such form has not gone unnoticed, with Liverpool clearly hoping to make a big move for the attacker when the transfer window opens in early June.
His ability to play on either flank would be a huge asset for the Reds, but signing Barcola could be an even better addition as they look to return to Premier League glory.
The Frenchman is primarily a left-sided forward and has amassed an incredible career that includes three Ligue 1 titles and the Champions League trophy.
He has top-level experience, which makes him a more attractive position than Diomande, and his statistics for the 2025/26 season further prove why he is a better signing.
Barcola, who was described as “world class” by Gianluigi Donnarumma, has scored the same number of goals this season, but with a better minutes-per-goal ratio.
He has also improved the accuracy of his shots on target while increasing the number of shots on target per 90 points, reaffirming his incredible ability to handle the ball in front of goal.
The PSG star has also shown his creativity in attacking areas of the pitch, going on to create 0.6 big chances per 90 in Ligue 1 this season.
According to the aforementioned tally, he has outscored 96% of attackers across the continent this season, and Leipzig star Diomande has not been able to come close to those numbers in recent months.
Barcola’s dominance over the Ivorian is also reflected in his 8.7 touches per 90 inside the opposition box, with the forward often causing defenders a lot of trouble with his all-round quality.
£60m is a great deal for Liverpool for a player of the French talent and experience, especially considering he is only 23 and has the chance to develop further in the coming years.
There is no denying that Diomande is a top prospect at the moment, but paying £87m for a player who has only had one successful season in Europe would be a huge sum.
As a result, Barcola becomes an even more valuable addition for the Reds, an attacker who could write his name in the club’s history if he moves to Anfield this summer.
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