Liverpool are reportedly keeping a close eye on the progress of Lyon attacker Bradley Barcola.
The 20-year-old has represented the club since the age of eight and has progressed through the youth ranks to become a prominent member of Laurent Blanc's squad this season.
Barcola has scored seven goals and set up four more in 25 senior appearances during the current campaign, including five goals and three assists in Ligue 1 since the turn of the year.
The 2002-born attacker was only on the fringes of Blanc's squad in the first half of the season, but he has now cemented a regular starting role and has registered a goal or assist in each of his last four top-flight matches.
Barcola also came up with two goals and an assist in the Coupe de France to help Les Gones reach the semi-finals, but his streak of Ligue 1 goal involvements was broken when he missed Friday's win over Toulouse through suspension.
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According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, a host of top European clubs are monitoring Barcola's situation, and Liverpool are among the interested parties.
Reds scouts are understood to be tracking his development at the Groupama Stadium, but the race for his signature is very much still open.
Barcola is under contract with Lyon until the end of the 2025-26 season, meaning that Blanc's side are under no pressure to sell on the cheap, but suitable offers should still be entertained.
The Frenchman has a total of seven goals and six assists to show from 38 games in a Lyon shirt, having set up two goals in 13 appearances during his debut campaign last year.
Barcola earned his first two caps for the France Under-21 team in March's friendlies with England and Spain, but he is still waiting to for his maiden call-up to Didier Deschamps's squad.
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While he has largely been deployed on the right-wing this season, Barcola has also gained experience on the left-hand side and through the middle, with his versatility making him an even more attractive proposition for interested parties.
A space will open up in Liverpool's attacking ranks this summer, as Roberto Firmino is confirmed to be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of June, bringing an end to a trophy-laden eight years at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp has Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez capable of playing through the middle, though, so a replacement for Firmino is unlikely to be high on his agenda.
The Reds welcomed one youthful attacker to the club last year in the form of Fabio Carvalho, but the 20-year-old has fallen out of favour and has played a mere five minutes in the Premier League since November.
Rather than adding to their forward line, Liverpool are expected to prioritise midfield additions as they prepare for the imminent exits of Naby Keita, Arthur and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but they have withdrawn their interest in Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham due to his £130m price tag.
Ben Knapton
