David Lynch has provided an update on Liverpool‘s transfer plans and confirmed that they are keen to sign a UEFA Champions League winner.

It’s been a summer full of twists and turns thus far for Andoni Iraola since he replaced Arne Slot at the helm. Mohamed Salah has left following the expiration of his contract, and the Reds were targeting Yan Diomande.

That was until Diomande made Paris Saint-Germain his preferred destination and the Merseyside outfit opted to look elsewhere. Several alternatives have been touted, and Lynch has made a huge claim over one of them.

Lynch: Liverpool Want to Sign Barcola

via Reuters

Once Diomande indicated that he wants to join PSG, speculation grew over Bradley Barcola’s future. The French winger isn’t a guaranteed starter under Luis Enrique and his chances of game time decrease should they sign the RB Leipzig attacker.

Lynch has been told that the Reds are long-term admirers of Barcola and that they are one of the clubs keen on signing the Frenchman. He said on his YouTube channel:

“Quick update on Bradley Barcola and where we’re up to with that one. I’ve had Liverpool sources effectively confirm to me this week they absolutely love him as a player. There’s no doubt about that. They are one of many clubs who really, really like him. Their admiration has been long-standing, and they really do continue to admire him coming into this window.”

Barcola enjoyed a superb season with PSG despite the competition for a starting berth in Enrique’s attack. He registered 13 goals and seven assists in 49 games across competitions, winning the Champions League for a second consecutive season.

The 23-year-old has also been a key man for France at the World Cup, managing two goals and one assist. His displays have garnered interest from Anfield although there are several obstacles:

“It’s more about now in terms of him potentially signing for Liverpool down to kind of the numbers around that deal, what’s being demanded and the feasibility of it. Of course, then whether he chooses Liverpool versus other suitors that he might have, what kind of contract offers he’s getting as well. It’s not about whether they like the player or not. I think you can pretty much nail that down now that Liverpool really do admire Bradley Barcola and would like to sign him if the opportunity presents itself.”

Barcola, hailed as “one of the best wingers in the world”, has two years left on his contract at PSG, having joined the Parisians from Lyon in 2023. The Ligue 1 giants have yet to make a move for Diomande and perhaps Liverpool’s hopes of signing the Frenchman firmly rest on the Ivorian arriving at the Parc des Princes.

Barcola a Dream Signing For Liverpool

Gonzalo Fuentes via Reuters

If Liverpool are to sign any winger this summer, Barcola is the dream given his profile and obvious star power. He can play on either wing and even up top if required.

The sticking point is the potential financial implications of a deal, as reports suggest PSG value him at over £100m. The Reds then have to factor in his salary demands as he currently earns £119,224 at the Parc des Princes and will probably be demanding a high wage increase.

Arsenal have also been linked with Barcola, but the Gunners are prioritising Morgan Rogers. They have also swooped for Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, paving the way for Iraola’s transfer chiefs to take control of the Barcola race.

David Lynch has provided an update on Liverpool‘s transfer plans and confirmed that they are keen to sign a UEFA Champions League winner.

It’s been a summer full of twists and turns thus far for Andoni Iraola since he replaced Arne Slot at the helm. Mohamed Salah has left following the expiration of his contract, and the Reds were targeting Yan Diomande.

That was until Diomande made Paris Saint-Germain his preferred destination and the Merseyside outfit opted to look elsewhere. Several alternatives have been touted, and Lynch has made a huge claim over one of them.

Lynch: Liverpool Want to Sign Barcola

via Reuters

Once Diomande indicated that he wants to join PSG, speculation grew over Bradley Barcola’s future. The French winger isn’t a guaranteed starter under Luis Enrique and his chances of game time decrease should they sign the RB Leipzig attacker.

Lynch has been told that the Reds are long-term admirers of Barcola and that they are one of the clubs keen on signing the Frenchman. He said on his YouTube channel:

“Quick update on Bradley Barcola and where we’re up to with that one. I’ve had Liverpool sources effectively confirm to me this week they absolutely love him as a player. There’s no doubt about that. They are one of many clubs who really, really like him. Their admiration has been long-standing, and they really do continue to admire him coming into this window.”

Barcola enjoyed a superb season with PSG despite the competition for a starting berth in Enrique’s attack. He registered 13 goals and seven assists in 49 games across competitions, winning the Champions League for a second consecutive season.

The 23-year-old has also been a key man for France at the World Cup, managing two goals and one assist. His displays have garnered interest from Anfield although there are several obstacles:

“It’s more about now in terms of him potentially signing for Liverpool down to kind of the numbers around that deal, what’s being demanded and the feasibility of it. Of course, then whether he chooses Liverpool versus other suitors that he might have, what kind of contract offers he’s getting as well. It’s not about whether they like the player or not. I think you can pretty much nail that down now that Liverpool really do admire Bradley Barcola and would like to sign him if the opportunity presents itself.”

Barcola, hailed as “one of the best wingers in the world”, has two years left on his contract at PSG, having joined the Parisians from Lyon in 2023. The Ligue 1 giants have yet to make a move for Diomande and perhaps Liverpool’s hopes of signing the Frenchman firmly rest on the Ivorian arriving at the Parc des Princes.

Barcola a Dream Signing For Liverpool

Gonzalo Fuentes via Reuters

If Liverpool are to sign any winger this summer, Barcola is the dream given his profile and obvious star power. He can play on either wing and even up top if required.

The sticking point is the potential financial implications of a deal, as reports suggest PSG value him at over £100m. The Reds then have to factor in his salary demands as he currently earns £119,224 at the Parc des Princes and will probably be demanding a high wage increase.

Arsenal have also been linked with Barcola, but the Gunners are prioritising Morgan Rogers. They have also swooped for Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, paving the way for Iraola’s transfer chiefs to take control of the Barcola race.

Shakhtar Donetsk are facing yet another venue headache heading into next season’s Champions League campaign.

The Ukrainian giants have been without a permanent European home for more than a decade, after being forced out of the Donbass Arena in 2014 and having to play their league matches in Lviv, some 600 miles away.

UEFA safety restrictions tied to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have left the club wandering the continent for their European fixtures, having previously staged matches in Poland, Germany and Slovenia.

Now, reports suggest a new solution could be found, with two London clubs in the Premier League emerging as potential hosts.

Shakhtar’s Stadium Shortlist Revealed

As reported by The Chelsea Chronicle, Ukrainian journalist Ihor Burbas discussed the situation on the BurBuzz YouTube channel, revealing that Brentford’s compact ground has already been ruled out due to capacity concerns, leaving two Premier League venues in contention. “As far as I have heard and understand, the stadium is too small for them at Brentford, which only holds 17,000 people,” Burbas said.

It must be said, that with Chelsea failing to qualify for any European football at all for the coming season, renting their stadium out for a side playing in the Champions League, a competition they won just four years ago, might not sit well with their fans.

How Groundshare Deals Work for Host Clubs

Arrangements like this are typically treated as lucrative commercial rentals for the stadium owner, with the host club charging a flat fee per match or taking a cut of gate receipts and hospitality sales, while covering costs like stewarding and policing falls to the visiting side.

It offers a useful secondary revenue stream on otherwise quiet midweek nights, though it does require careful scheduling to protect the pitch and avoid clashes with the host’s own fixture list.

Tottenham have previously profited handsomely from renting out their stadium for a variety of events, while Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion has also cashed in before by hosting Shakhtar’s European nights in the past.