French giants Olympique Lyonnais have drawn battlelines on the transfer map in recent days surrounding academy product and club starlet Bradley Barcola as both Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea weigh up a potential move for the French youth international.
The 20-year-old French U21 international is classed as one of the brightest young talents anywhere in Europe after a full coming-out party in 2022-23 in Ligue 1 after graduating from the academy ranks in 2021-22.
Per Fabrizio Romano, OL will only consider parting ways with the budding versatile attacking player if they receive a player in exchange across any deal, with both PSG and Chelsea having been informed of their pending demands.
Understand Olympique Lyon have clear strategy regarding Bradley Barcola: they want players included in the deal for the winger. ⭐️🇫🇷 #OL
OL are only keen on swap deal + fee for Barcola, message sent to PSG in the recent days.
Chelsea also informed since last week. pic.twitter.com/JUllgMqRRo
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 23, 2023
Barcola’s name was put up in lights last season when he bagged a trio of assists in a scintillating 5-4 win over Montpellier, in a match where both Alexandre Lacazette and Elye Wahi hit four goals, but his overall development at OL has been phenomenal across the board.
All told, Barcola made 45 appearances for OL, with all seven of his senior goals across all competitions coming last season. His overall profile and age are unquestionably ideal for both PSG and Chelsea as well, given that both clubs are now operating under long-term remits focused on a young core that can grow and develop.
It remains unclear who Chelsea or PSG could offer up as part of a swap deal plus cash for the young forward as things stand, but there could be scope to suggest that Romelu Lukaku could be used as a makeweight given his mutual removal from the senior setup under new boss Mauricio Pochettino.
