Liverpool have to react quickly after missing out on Yan Diomande after learning that the RB Leipzig star has chosen Paris Saint-Germain as his preferred next club.

The RB Leipzig winger had been the Reds’ top choice to replace Mohamed Salah, and the Ivorian ticks plenty of boxes. At only 19, he is one of the most exciting teenagers in European football, but he won’t be arriving at Anfield.

GIVEMESPORT understands that Liverpool have ended their pursuit of Diomande due to the player wanting to join PSG. The club’s decision-makers are now exploring alternatives to add a new winger to Andoni Iraola’s attack.

Liverpool Should Turn to Barcola

Gonzalo Fuentes via Reuters

There are four players who are on Liverpool’s radar, including PSG’s Bradley Barcola. With Diomande potentially heading to the Parc des Princes, the French attacker could make way.

Barcola is on the Merseysiders’ shortlist and might become available if the Parisians decide to swoop for Diomande. The 23-year-old has been an important player for Luis Enrique and registered 13 goals and seven assists in 49 games across competitions last season.

PSG’s interest in Diomande is somewhat surprising given the pool of attacking options they possess. Barcola is one of them, and he will surely be pondering his future if another winger with a similar profile arrives.

Praised as “one of the world’s best wingers”, the former Lyon man’s exploits tend to go under the radar in Paris. His teammates Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia often get all the plaudits in the dominant European champions’ team.

Liverpool have an opportunity to swoop for Barcola and propose that he becomes their marquee signing to fill the void left by Salah. He has enormous talent and could relish the chance to play a lead role at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Barcola has two years left on his contract and has been with the French capital club since August 2023. He seems a perfect fit for Iraola’s system and his versatility could see him used on either flank.

Barcola is the Best of the Lot

via Reuters

There are four wingers on Liverpool’s wishlist who they are considering turning to after conceding defeat in the race for Diomande. They also admire Koln’s Said El Mala, Lille’s Matias Fernandes-Pardo and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh.

Barcola is undoubtedly the best option of the four, as he has been part of a team that has dominated Europe and French football. He’s even earning game time for France at the World Cup and is arguably outperforming PSG teammate Doue.

A move for Barcola will, of course, be dependent on whether the Parisian giants decide to sign Diomande. Some reports claim the Ligue 1 club will be demanding around €80 million (£69m).

Tottenham could be set for Premier League interest in one of their bright young stars this summer. Spurs are in the midst of a squad overhaul as they look to go from relegation candidates to European candidates.

Roberto De Zerbi is going to be handed big money to make changes to his squad, with the Italian likely securing promises from the Spurs higher-ups before even taking the job. Spurs have promised changes this summer after back-to-back bottom-half finishes, and they are now putting their money where their mouth is, already wrapping up four new signings in an impressively efficient window so far.

But mass signings are not always good news for existing players, and one player appears to want out.

Bergvall exit noise is not going away

One of Tottenham’s brightest young talents, Lucas Bergvall, is now being heavily linked with a move away this summer. The attacking midfielder clearly has a lot of potential to reach, described as a ‘generational talent’ by Spurs scouting chief Robert Mackenzie, but it has been reported that his route to regular first-team football is now a clear one next season.

That could leave him to leave, and amid growing transfer links, he recently refused to comment on a move, sparking more speculation.

Bergvall, who is at the World Cup with Sweden, told reporters: “As I said: I’m fully focused on the World Cup.” He added: “I’m fully focusing on the World Cup. I’m here with Sweden, and we’re going to try to make a good impression in the U.S. Whatever happens after that, we’ll deal with it then. It’s been a tough season, as I said. But now the focus is on the World Cup and being here.”

In Bergvall’s defence, ‘refusing to rule out’ a move, as it is often described, is treated similar to asking for a move by many, which doesn’t feel particularly fair. Many international players turn off all communications to the club world during an international tournament, and such an approach worked well for Spain at the last Euros.

So, in all likelihood, Bergvall is being truthful with his stance in those comments, but it doesn’t mean a move is not likely this summer. Ultimately, Spurs do have options in the number 10 role, and James Maddison is likely to be the starter there, while Xavi Simons will likely be the secondary option when he returns from injury, likely some time in the winter.

Forest could move for Bergvall this summer

If Bergvall is to leave, it is then about the possible suitors, and the Sweden international is likely to have options both in the Premier League and abroad. According to Ben Jacobs, one of the main Premier League options could be Nottingham Forest, who have the playmaker on their shortlist.

Jacobs posted on X: “Liverpool value Jones in the region of £40m, and it is unclear whether Forest are prepared to go that high. Liverpool are content to keep hold of Jones if their asking price is not met. Jones is heading into the final year of his contract but should he remain beyond this summer, talks over a new contract are not ruled out.

“Forest also have Spurs’ Lucas Bergvall high in their thinking. The Swedish midfielder has asked the club to leave as he seeks a new challenge.”

Spurs will reportedly ask for £45million to sell Bergvall this summer.

Canada continue to make history at the 2026 World Cup, beating South Africa 1-0 to progress to the round of 16.

A relatively uneventful match looked like it was heading for extra time, before Stephen Eustaquio’s 92nd-minute goal sealed victory for Jesse Marsch’s side and broke South African hearts in the process.

They had already made it further than any other Canadian team at the World Cup when they made it out of Group B and into the knockout phase, and they’ve gone one step further, with Marsch quick to praise his side and brand them “Canadian heroes.”

Troy Deeney Questions Marsch’s “Free Hit” Mentality

Troy Deeney gave a scathing assessment of Marsch’s choice of words, taking aim at the suggestion that Canada’s last-16 tie is a “free hit,” rather than a genuine shot at progression.

Speaking on CBS Sports, the former Watford and Birmingham City striker said:

It’s a fair question to raise, given the message it could send to a Canada squad who have already made history simply by reaching this stage of the tournament. Deeney went further, saying: “If that’s the case, go and have a beer now.”

Marcelo Balboa was equally unconvinced by Marsch’s framing, branding it a “bad message” to send to his players ahead of such a significant fixture. The former USMNT defender’s concern centres on the idea that labelling a knockout tie as a “free hit” risks lowering the stakes in players’ minds, regardless of the intention behind it.

Watch more of Deeney’s criticism below:

What’s Next For Canada and Jesse Marsch?

Canada coach Jesse Marsch via REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Canada now know they’ll face either Morocco or the Netherlands, FIFA’s sixth and seventh ranked nations, for a place in the quarter-finals, a daunting assignment by anyone’s standards.

While Marsch’s comments may have been designed to take the pressure off his squad and encourage them to play with freedom, there’s a risk that framing the game as a “free hit” could have the opposite effect, subtly lowering ambitions at the exact moment Canada require their players to be fully focused on the job at hand.

It continues a tournament in which Marsch’s man-management style has split opinion, with many likening his somewhat performative approach to the popular TV series, Ted Lasso. Whether his words inspire Canada to another famous result, or end up undermining their belief before kick-off, will be proved in just a handful of days.