Yan Diomande or Bradley Barcola: Liverpool's pick for their next superstar

Liverpool want a new left-winger. So, Yan Diomande or Bradley Barcola?

Liverpool sold Luis Diaz last summer and didn't actually replace him, instead placing their faith in Rio Ngumoha to make the step up. Ngumoha, however, has had limited minutes all season and that's left the team without real, driven pace on the left.

Mo Salah's difficult campaign has then limited their output from wide positions even further, essentially forcing Liverpool into looking at wingers this summer. And they've certainly got great options.

Anfield Watch understands that Liverpool see a genuine opportunity to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain. Reports also indicate that they've held initial talks with the representatives of Yan Diomande.

These two appears to be the 'best' options for Liverpool right now. There can be little doubt that they'd significantly boost the squad going forward - but who's actually 'better'?

Yan Diomande to Liverpool

Diomande is the up and comer in European football right now. It's expected that he'll move on from RB Leipzig this summer, though there remains a chance that a deal waits for 2027.

But the Ivorian would be our pick. There's a sense that Diomande can become the world's best, which isn't something you can really say about Barcola.

Especially as Diomande is four years younger than the Frenchman. He’s shown an ability to adapt remarkably fast to new environments, too, having only actually broken into senior football in early 2025 with Leganes.

Diomande thrived there, earned a move to Leipzig, and then immediately thrived there, too. Liverpool would have every reason to believe that he’s on the ascendancy and would kick on again in England.

He’s the high-potential option and, arguably, the in-form option as well.

Bradley Barcola to Liverpool

So we do believe that Diomande should be the no.1 choice. However, Liverpool aren't the only ones to talk with Diomande's people - PSG have, too.

Signing the player would create that opportunity for Barcola to leave, though it's entirely possible that the Frenchman leaves anyway. He might end up being a magnificent consolation prize for Liverpool, then.

21 goals and 18 assists across all competitions last season - there can be no doubt that Barcola is a special player. He's just at a club littered with star forwards.

There is no question that Liverpool would be vastly improved by having him in their ranks. Barcola would bring incredible output from the flank and add something that the squad just doesn't have right now.

The only 'problem' is that he doesn't quite boast the incredible potential that Diomande does. But perhaps that doesn't matter. Maybe the fact that he's done it in a top five league, putting out numbers that Diomande hasn't, would make him the safer purchase.

All we know for sure is that no matter who Liverpool end up with, they've improved by quite some way.