Liverpool has unveiled their exciting new French trio as they gear up for the season. The Reds shared training snapshots from the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby, featuring newly signed winger Bradley Barcola, striker Hugo Ekitike, and defender Jeremy Jacquet. With the cheeky caption 'Un, deux, trois', it's no surprise that supporters have coined the term 'Frenchpool' for this emerging dynamic.
Barcola, a 23-year-old talent, has joined Liverpool on a five-year deal, donning the number 29 shirt. The deal has a financial structure that sees an initial fee of £106 million, which could escalate to £123 million with achievable bonuses. Additionally, Liverpool will cover solidarity payments to Lyon for the percentage of any future sale related to the former PSG player.
This transfer makes Barcola the second most expensive signing in Liverpool's history, following Alexander Isak. The objective behind bringing in the Frenchman is to offset Mohamed Salah's departure, injecting explosive pace into the left wing under the guidance of new manager Andoni Iraola. Last season, Barcola notched up 13 goals and 7 assists in 49 matches for PSG, and bagged three goals for France during the World Cup.
Barcola himself has expressed his dream of winning the Premier League, revealing the influence Ekitike had on his decision to join Liverpool, as they are well acquainted from their time at PSG and the national team:
He was constantly urging me to make the move, regularly messaging to ask if I would be joining. I can't wait to reunite on the pitch.
Ekitike, currently recovering from a severe Achilles injury sustained in a match against PSG in April, is expected to be sidelined for several months before he can return to action.
The third member of this budding French core, Jeremy Jacquet, is a promising 20-year-old defender from the French U21 setup. His transfer from Rennes for £55 million plus bonuses was agreed back in February. The arrival of this formidable attacking trio has filled Liverpool fans with optimism, particularly as they navigate a challenging start to the season.
