Former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris has publicly called on the club to move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola this summer.
Morris made his feelings clear on Sky Sports, expressing his desire to see Chelsea enter the race for the highly sought-after 23-year-old winger.
Liverpool have been identified as the frontrunners for Barcola, with manager Andoni Iraola keen to bring in a marquee winger following Mohamed Salah’s departure.
The reigning European champions PSG are demanding a fee of around £145 million for the France international, making any deal an expensive undertaking.
Liverpool have already moved to address their attacking options by signing Victor Muñoz from Osasuna, but Barcola remains their primary winger target.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have bolstered their own left flank this summer by signing Morgan Rogers, with Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto also providing options for manager Xabi Alonso.
Morris admitted he was surprised Chelsea secured Rogers at all, given the competition they faced from Arsenal and the fact that Aston Villa will play Champions League football next season.
Morris said: “I would have loved to have been in a position where we [Chelsea] can go after Barcola. But I said this previously, I was really surprised that we managed to get Morgan Rogers through the door when he’s playing for a team that’s already in the Champions League and reportedly had the champions of England [Arsenal] after him as well.”
He added: “I was really surprised that we managed to get him through the door so I think it would be wishful thinking if we were then able to get another player of that ilk [Barcola] who has just won the Champions League twice.”
Barcola has demonstrated his quality consistently, recording 41 goal contributions during the 2024/25 campaign before netting 13 goals and registering six assists across all competitions last term.
He has also played a key role in PSG’s recent dominance, helping the club win three Ligue 1 titles and two Champions League trophies in recent years.
Despite his impressive record, Barcola has at times struggled to command a starting role in Luis Enrique’s lineup for the biggest Champions League fixtures.
His performances have nonetheless earned him a regular place in the France national team squad, underlining his standing among Europe’s elite wide players.
With Chelsea not competing in European football next season, convincing Barcola to choose Stamford Bridge over Anfield could prove to be a significant challenge for the club.