Liverpool are seriously considering a move for the £87m winger

Liverpool have made it clear they are looking to seal a deal for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande at the start of the summer transfer window, with the build-up saga getting David Ornstein’s stamp of approval.

It’s a good thing. The Reds have been heartbroken this season, and although it looks like they will clear the Champions League with a fifth-place finish, there are many key imbalances with Arne Slot’s side, and the general consensus at the moment is that keeping faith in a coach under fire is a huge gamble.

After all, this was a poor campaign in the 2014/15 season under Brendan Rodgers.

But FSG seem to have rolled the dice, backing Slot and allowing Xabi Alonso to take over at Stamford Bridge. If this is indeed the owners’ decision, then Slot will need new parts this summer, with more than one wing lined up.

Romano confirms Liverpool’s interest in rival Diomande

Diomande is the hotshot right now, and understandably so: the 19-year-old burst onto the scene this season and has emerged as one of the best players in the Bundesliga.

Riding the wave is fine, but at £87m, Liverpool will need to earn their keep from there. With that in mind, can Liverpool turn their transfer cannon in another direction?

However, according to Fabrizio Romano, viewers would be wise to keep Bradley Barcola in mind, with the Paris Saint-Germain winger very much on the radar of Anfield sporting director Richard Hughes.

The transfer guru has established in the latest update Liverpool’s deep admiration for the player, having explored a bid last summer but backed out due to focus on signing Alexander Isak.

With PSG also in Diomande’s squad, Barcola could emerge as a “serious option” for those on Merseyside.

Priced at £87m, there is a feeling that the Les Bleus star’s price tag could come down. He has been involved in contract negotiations with his employers for some time, but there has been no success, and FSG may be exploring the opening.

Why Barcola would be a bigger coup than Diomande

Barcola is only 23 years old, but he is already shining in silverware after many years in the French capital with PSG. Last season, he scored 21 goals and dished out 21 assists en route to a quadruple.

A mulit-functional winger, Barcola can play across the front line, something Diomande can do as well. Any rising star would be a statement signing for the Reds, but given that Barcola has already established himself at the top of the game, there is a sense that he will arrive at Anfield and make an immediate impact, perhaps creating more ripples than Diomande on the right.

The Ivory Coast player is still a legend after all.

This year, Barcola has been frustrated in a shared role on the left wing with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has impressed Luis Enrique. It is possible that a move away would be the best move for all parties regarding Barcola.

Hailed as “one of the best left-backs in Europe” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Barcola continues. He could reach a new level in the Liverpool project that will give him a prominent position on the left side, an upgrade on Gakpo and a pace setter followed by the new and exciting Rio Ngumoha.

Diomande could be an exciting talent, but Barcola is already one of the best in the business, and it is imperative that Liverpool secure his signature as soon as possible, before he has the chance to shine in France at the World Cup and see his market value rise.

There is every chance that Liverpool will sign both this summer. It could be a task for the team that their struggles on the wings have jeopardized their chances of fighting for the title this season.

But if FSG have the means to pull off a big-money deal, it should be Barcola, who has already hit his stride and is still on the lookout for a club willing to develop him into their talisman.