Michael Owen believes Liverpool must be careful not to let Paris Saint-Germain take advantage of their need to replace Mohamed Salah, with the French club reportedly valuing Bradley Barcola at about £145m.
Liverpool are searching for a new winger before the summer transfer window closes in September after Salah ended his contract with the club and joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on a free transfer. The move came despite the Egypt international signing a new two-year deal with the Reds in April.
Salah’s departure leaves Liverpool with a major attacking gap to fill after his nine years at Anfield. He scored 257 goals and supplied 123 assists in 442 appearances for the club, helping them win the Premier League title in 2020 and 2025, as well as the Champions League in 2019.
Barcola, 23, has emerged as Liverpool’s leading target for the position this summer. Other names linked with the club include Yan Diomande and Ibrahim Mbaye, but reports suggest PSG want around £145m for Barcola.
The winger’s career so far has been played exclusively in Ligue 1, although he has established himself as an important player at PSG. His contract with the French champions runs until 2028, meaning they are under no pressure to sell him.
Owen, speaking to the Liverpool Echo, said PSG could use Liverpool’s situation to demand an inflated fee.
“Barcola is the leading name at the moment and seems to be available, but he will be expensive,” said Owen. “Liverpool need a statement signing in that position after the departures of Salah, Mane and Diaz. They may need two wingers, but they definitely need at least one.
“They appear to be interested in him and he has the qualities, but it will come down to the price.”
Owen, who began his career at Liverpool, said the club had previously enjoyed a strong supply of outstanding wide players but now appeared short of options in those positions.
“Liverpool had Salah, Mane and Diaz,” he added. “There have been many great players at the club who have played out wide over the years, but it seems that type of player is in short supply at Liverpool at the moment.”
The former England forward described a potential £145m transfer as “exorbitant and ridiculous” for a player who has not yet proved himself in the Premier League.
“He has played at the highest level, but at some point you have to say no,” Owen said. “If it reaches £145m, that is madness.”
Owen also revealed that he would have preferred Liverpool to sign Jarrod Bowen from West Ham as Salah’s replacement, describing that option as “very logical”. However, he accepted that deal was no longer possible.
“The problem is that everyone knows how badly Liverpool need a top-class player,” Owen said. “So they will have to pay a huge amount. That may be what they have to do, but £145m is a massive figure.”
