Bajetic rejoins Celta Vigo on permanent dealpublished at 21:19 BST 31 August
21:19 BST 31 August
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Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic has returned to Celta Vigo on a permanent deal, five-and-a-half years after leaving the La Liga side to join the Reds' academy
Bajcetic made his senior Liverpool debut under Jurgen Klopp as a 17-year-old in August 2022 and made 19 appearances across the 2022-23 season.
He scored his only goal in a 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Boxing Day 2022.
However, injuries limited the now 21-year-old's opportunities and he only made three more appearances for the club - spending time on loan at Red Bull Salzburg and Las Palmas during the 2024-25 campaign.
The stats that show Barcola's strengthspublished at 21:07 BST 31 August
21:07 BST 31 August
Mohamed Moallim BBC Sport Journalist
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Bradley Barcola is a left winger by trade, having played almost all of his Champions League minutes for PSG on that flank, but his game is shaped by a centre-forward's instincts. He played as a striker until the age of 17, something reflected in his movement and shot selection.
Last season, he averaged 3.5 shots per 90 minutes in Ligue 1, placing him among the division's most active shooters despite operating from wide areas.
His 9.83 expected goals (xG) ranked in the 95th percentile among wingers across Europe's top five leagues, meaning only around 5% of wide players consistently found themselves in better goalscoring positions.
Barcola converted those chances into 11 league goals, outperforming his xG, while no PSG player or Ligue 1 winger recorded a higher xG total during the 2025-26 campaign.
Those instincts are reflected in how he attacks defenders. Barcola was the only player across Europe's top five leagues to average more than two shot-ending carries per 90 minutes (2.06), illustrating his ability to drive at opponents before creating shooting opportunities for himself.
He also averaged 8.69 touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 minutes - the seventh-highest figure among more than 1,500 eligible players - reinforcing the profile of a winger who consistently occupies goalscoring positions.
His shot map highlights a player who attacks dangerous central areas rather than settling for speculative efforts from distance. Only Ousmane Dembele had a better combined shot volume with chance creation in Ligue 1, underlining Barcola's rare ability to both finish attacks and create opportunities for team-mates.
His work without the ball is another reason Liverpool's recruitment team admired him. Barcola ranked ninth across Europe's top five leagues for possessions won in the final third last season, a metric that reflects the aggressive pressing and intensity demanded under Andoni Iraola.
'Awful' business - fans on what Liverpool still need to dopublished at 18:22 BST 31 August
18:22 BST 31 August
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Now Liverpool have announced Bradley Barcola, we asked for your views on who else they should sign before the transfer deadline at 23:00 BST on Tuesday?
Here are some of your comments:
Martin: Barcola could prove to be great, but spending so much money on one player when we have so many holes on the pitch, I hope is not a mistake. We've needed a number six since Fabinho left and to think we're not in for one is crazy. Don't know a lot about Lamine Camara, but at least he seems to be a specialist number six. Also, a right-back is essential...one who can defend at least. These two positions are essential, but sadly, Richard Hughes has proved himself lacking. Hopefully we'll get someone better to replace him.
Leo: Barcola is a great signing and seeing the confirmation has made my day. Going forward, a defensive midfielder is crucial, to help the centre-backs get back and defend on the counters. This cost us for the first two games.
David: We still need a defensive ball-playing midfielder and right-winger for our new system, as well as a full-back that can play either side. I'm not asking much, but that's my wishlist.
Nick: Liverpool badly need a midfielder to just sit there, mop up and protect the defence. Every other midfielder is attack-minded. They need a right back because Jeremie Frimpong is a wing-back. I would say a right-winger, but the ones they've been linked to just aren't inspiring and overpriced. Liverpool have really messed up their summer and are setting Iraola up for a difficult year. Awful from Richard Hughes and those upstairs.
Jacob: We need a strong number six who will stop being so easily broken down by counter-attacks like we were against Newcastle. Then we also need another right back as Frimpong is simply not good enough.
Mark: What we need is a right-sided attacking midfielder, so I don't really see the need for Barcola. Frimpong isn't good enough. Bradley is injured, and we let Ramsay go out on loan... I don't really understand the transfer policy at the moment. I hope I'm wrong.
"It's a great pride to be able to play for Liverpool. I'm very happy," the France international told club media.
"It took a long time but I'm really happy today to be able to play for Liverpool. All I want is to be on the pitch and be able to play."
Barcola won three Ligue 1 titles and two Champions Leagues across a trophy-laden three years in Paris, and is now targeting taking the Reds back to English top-flight glory.
"I hope to achieve very big things," he added. "First of all, winning the Premier League – it's one of my biggest dreams in my life.
"It is to do that and to stay in this team in the long term – that's why I signed a long contract – and I hope I can do it.
"I had the chance to play twice in this stadium and I saw the atmosphere and how the fans were behind the Liverpool players.
"When I knew about Liverpool's interest in me, I didn't ask questions and I knew it was a very big club for me."
So, now Liverpool have landed Barcola, what else needs to be done - in terms of both ins and outs - before the transfer deadline at 23:00 BST on Tuesday?
'Iraola the right man to improve Barcola'published at 14:18 BST 31 August
14:18 BST 31 August
Neil Johnston BBC Sport journalist
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Bradley Barcola is the statement signing Liverpool fans have craved all summer. With his expensive price tag, however, comes pressure.
He will be expected to hit the ground running, but he does have form against Premier League opposition.
Barcola has come up against numerous English clubs during his time at Paris St-Germain. He scored in a 4-2 Champions League win over Manchester City in January 2025, before finding the net in each leg against Chelsea in the last 16 last season.
Liverpool and their new boss Andoni Iraola will take positives that Barcola settled so quickly after his high-profile move to PSG.
"He went to Paris St-Germain for something like 50m euros, which was a huge amount considering he had only played something like one full season in Ligue 1," Pierre-Etienne Minonzio, football journalist for L'Equipe, told BBC Sport.
"It was an insane amount of money for someone who had not really done anything, but Luis Enrique saw something in him.
"Liverpool is a good fit for Barcola, especially because of Iraola. He is so good at improving players and Barcola is not the finished product.
"Sometimes he runs and runs and runs, and then his finishing is not always good. He has to improve and I think he will.
"It was exactly the same with Ousmane Dembele. Two or three years ago, Dembele was so good at dribbling and running, but sometimes when he was in front of goal he was making bad choices.
"Barcola is a bit like that in the finishing aspect of his game, but he will improve with the right manager - and I think Iraola is the right manager."
Valencia enter talks with Reds for Elliot loanpublished at 14:01 BST 31 August
14:01 BST 31 August
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
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Valencia are in talks with Liverpool to take midfielder Harvey Elliott on loan for the rest of the season.
The 23-year-old spent last season on loan at Aston Villa but made only one Premier League start for them.
Valencia, who finished ninth in La Liga last season and did not qualify for Europe, have been working to find a financially viable way of making the loan deal work.
The Spanish club want Liverpool to cover half of the midfielder's wages.
Elliott featured regularly during Liverpool's pre-season under new head coach Andoni Iraola but has subsequently been left out of the club's first two Premier League squads.
As reported by BBC Sport earlier, the Reds have shown an interest in Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr after having two bids for Yankuba Minteh rejected by Brighton as they look to bolster their attacking options on top of the signing of Bradley Barcola.
Will we see the best of Isak at Anfield?published at 14:00 BST 31 August
14:00 BST 31 August
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Former Premier League striker Charlie Austion doesn't believe Alexander Isak will develop into a 20-goal-per-season striker at Liverpool, while questioning: "Do they play for him as a striker?"
The Sweden international has only scored four Premier League goals since arriving at the club for a then British-record fee in September 2025.
"St James' Park was a very tough place for him to go to on the opening day of the season," Austin said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily. "It was almost like he had to play hide-and-seek, but the Nottingham Forest game was very different.
"The ball came across to him three yards out from goal, it was perfect and he scored - so at least he is off that big zero early doors.
"From a striker's perspective, hopefully that first goal pushes him on now and builds him up with confidence. He has his first goal at the Kop End and he can use that to push himself on.
"However, when you play as a number nine, you play in one of two ways. For example, Erling Haaland doesn't touch the ball a lot but he scores a lot of goals. Is Alexander Isak in that bracket of striker? I'm unsure because Liverpool don't play the way Manchester City do.
"When I look at Liverpool at the moment, I think: 'Do they play for the striker? Do they play for Isak?' - because Newcastle United did for the whole time he was there.
"Liverpool play with wingers that are on opposite sides and full-backs who would rather pass a ball into the number 10, so do I think Isak can score 20 plus Premier League goals for this team in one season? I'm still very unsure.
"I'm unsure we are going to see the best of him while he is wearing the number nine shirt for Liverpool. I do hope I'm wrong, though."
Sarr frontrunner to replace Gakpopublished at 10:30 BST 31 August
10:30 BST 31 August
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
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With Cody Gakpo's future up in the air, Liverpool have turned their attentions to Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr after having two bids for Yankuba Minteh rejected by Brighton.
The Seagulls want more than the £60m offered by Liverpool and it remains to be seen whether Andoni Iraola's side go back in for him.
Like the Minteh, Sarr is a right-sided winger and the Reds initially enquired about the Senegal international last week, but that was rebuffed by Crystal Palace.
'There's no doubting Isak's quality' - Hartpublished at 09:52 BST 31 August
09:52 BST 31 August
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
Media caption,
It would have been intriguing to be a fly on the wall in the directors' box at Anfield.
Andoni Iraola's first home Premier League game was watched by incoming Liverpool vice-chairman Amit Bhatia, principal owner John Henry and sporting director Richard Hughes, who was integral in getting the deal for Alexander Isak done last summer.
Thankfully for them - and Iraola - Isak got Liverpool on level terms after the break. He managed just seven more touches in the second half but centre-forwards deal in goals and the Swede timed his run perfectly to meet Cody Gakpo's delivery for his first goal of the season. His smile after told a story in itself.
But, in BBC Sport pundit Joe Hart Hart's opinion, Iraola still has a major conundrum.
"Andoni Iraola has some big decisions to make," said Hart. "Does he base his team round him [Isak] or does he try to find a different solution within his squad? In my opinion, he's got to commit to what the club have done by investing so heavily in Isak.
"There's no point signing these players if you aren't going to use them properly and play to their strengths. There's no doubting Isak's quality - they are just at a bit of a crossroads at the moment."
During Isak's struggles last season, the belief inside the club was that he was a long-term signing and judgement would be reserved for once he was fully fit.
Only Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Ollie Watkins have scored more Premier League goals since Isak's first season in England and, with Salah now out of the picture, the onus is on Isak to deliver - particularly with Hugo Ekitike out injured.
Nigel: We see the lack of quality passing in the last third of the pitch in every game. It's too late now, of course, but Liverpool should have offered Trent the world and a statue next to Shankly if he had stayed. We miss him more than any other player who has left.
Adnan: They do not look and feel like a Liverpool side. Previous generations oozed Liverpool blood - remember, guys, who you play for and where you play. Jurgen knew and hence his players knew.
Ben: An improvement on the two home games against Forest under Slot, but a lot of work to do. Tsimikas should be the first-choice left-back as Kerkez is still not up to the job, and another right-back is needed so we stop playing Szobozslai there.
Marilyn: Not a foot-on-the-gas start at Anfield, but I saw little flashes of possibilities! The new guys are full of running, but passes going astray. Isak not positive enough. Rio too easily tackled still. Hope the jigsaw comes together with Barcola's arrival. Going to be a nervy few weeks!
Nottingham Forest fans
Chris: After the abysmal performances against Leeds I was not looking forward to this game. All I wanted was a good performance and boy did we get it. Onwards and upwards.
Paul: Encouraging signs (genuinely) for Forest. Team looks to be gelling well, some depth and options on the bench too. Needed that point, and shame not to win. Delap looked lively and like he can make a difference. All players played well. On to the next game and maybe a final dabble in the window.
James: Much better performance than previously shown. McAtee really stepped up but I thought Schlager was the unsung hero he was so good on his Premier League debut.
Martin: The exact opposite of our very poor performance on Tuesday against Leeds. I thought we kept the ball well and defended solidly. Attacked with pace and all players had a great game.
'It's pretty clear I want him to stay'published at 08:44 BST 31 August
08:44 BST 31 August
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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has made it clear he wants Cody Gakpo to remain at the club, despite interest in the attacker from Manchester City.
Enzo Maresca's side have opened talks with Liverpool about signing Gakpo, who has contributed a goal and assist in the Reds' opening two games of the Premier League season.
After Saturday's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, Van Dijk said: "He's a quality player and I think we should keep quality players, but let's see what the next three days bring.
"It's pretty clear I want him to stay, not only because he is the quality player that he is, but also he's a friend of mine and I think he will be very important for us."
The Reds are also are monitoring Genk goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, 18, but if a deal happens this summer it will not result in an immediate move for the Belgium youth international. (Ben Jacobs, external)
Reds 'taking massive risk' if they allow Gakpo to leavepublished at 11:32 BST 30 August
11:32 BST 30 August
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
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Liverpool view Cody Gakpo as a proven multi-functional Premier League attacker and he has shown that with a goal and an assist in their first two games this season.
But all summer, the understanding has been that if the club bring in the attacking players they want, they would not stand in the way of Gakpo if a solid offer came in.
Given how late in the transfer window the talks are taking place between Liverpool and Manchester City, the Anfield side will now consider the situation before sanctioning any move.
Liverpool are also hoping to bring in another winger before deadline day.
With the arrival of Victor Munoz, the emergence of Rio Ngumoha and Bradley Barcola's imminent move from PSG, Gakpo is well aware that he may not be first choice any more, so if a move does happen it would not come as a surprise.
Financially it will be a great outcome for Liverpool if they agree a deal for about £85m given they signed Gakpo for £35m from PSV Eindhoven after the World Cup in 2022.
But with Hugo Ekitike missing until 2027 with a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Alexander Isak's injury struggles, they would be taking a massive risk letting Gakpo leave.
Image source, Getty Images
