1 Sept 2026
Barcola to Liverpool: £123 million fee and Gakpo’s future after Manchester City bid
Bradley Barcola has joined Liverpool for £123 million in one of the biggest deals of the transfer window. The PSG forward’s arrival increases competition in attack, but the club expects to keep Cody Gakpo after rejecting an £80 million offer from Manchester City.
Barcola to Liverpool: what happened
Liverpool have completed the signing of Bradley Barcola from PSG for £123 million. The fee puts the French forward at the heart of the club’s sporting plans and highlights the scale of the deal in the transfer market. For Liverpool, the transfer represents a major investment in a player arriving to compete for a place and give the attack more options.
What is the impact of the £123 million fee?
The transfer fee raises expectations of Barcola from day one. In a deal of this size, Liverpool are bringing in a player who must justify the investment within the squad. The fee also changes the perception of the position: the club have not signed merely an option to add depth, but a reinforcement of considerable financial and sporting significance.
Cody Gakpo’s future at Liverpool
Barcola’s arrival naturally puts Cody Gakpo’s future under discussion. With greater competition in attack, the Dutchman’s place could come under closer scrutiny, especially after Manchester City submitted an £80 million offer. Liverpool rejected the bid and, at this stage, expect Gakpo to remain in the squad.
Why did Liverpool reject Manchester City’s offer?
Rejecting £80 million indicates that Liverpool still see Gakpo as part of the project, despite signing Barcola. The club could have used the sale to offset some of the £123 million invested in the PSG forward, but chose to keep the player. This suggests that Barcola and Gakpo are not being treated as direct replacements at this stage.
Can Barcola and Gakpo share the same squad?
The most likely scenario is internal competition rather than Gakpo’s immediate departure. Barcola arrives with the weight of a £123 million transfer, while Gakpo remains in the squad after the rejection of Manchester City’s offer. The main consequence will be a fight for minutes and attacking roles at Liverpool. If the current expectation is fulfilled, both players will be part of the same season, with Barcola increasing the pressure and Gakpo seeking to retain his importance.
Related pre-match analysis
Keep reading
Analysis: PK Sport · our methodology
Analysis based on public data and market signals. For analysis only — not betting advice.