Reports show that Liverpool are in talks with PSG and are closing in on a blockbuster deal to sign Bradley Barcola, but Jamie Carragher feels it’s not the right fit.
Fabrizio Romano, who has been the most vocal and insistent on Liverpool’s plans to sign Barcola all summer, has reported that the Reds are in talks to sign the French winger.
“Liverpool have Barcola as a top priority,” Romano said on YouTube.
“Barcola wants to go to Liverpool. Barcola loves Liverpool project and is very tempted about the opportunity to play for Liverpool.
“So, there is no doubt that personal terms can be agreed. There will be no problem, no issue, but, as of today, they have yet to reach an agreement on the numbers.”
James Pearce reported this week that Liverpool are set to make their first bid for Barcola, with the feeling being that the offer will be around the £100m mark and much lower than PSG’s reported £145m valuation.
Carragher, however, doesn’t believe that Barcola is the right signing for the Reds.
Liverpool need to replace Mohamed Salah but Barcola is not a left winger, Carragher contests
The official Sky Sports Premier League account on X posted Barcola stats from on Wednesday, with the caption: “Is Bradley Barcola the player to replace Mo Salah at Liverpool?”
Is Bradley Barcola the player to replace Mo Salah at Liverpool? ??? pic.twitter.com/jyrRRjogDh
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 29, 2026
Carragher quoted the post, contesting that because Salah was a right winger and Barcola is a left winger, it’s not a smart move.
The former Liverpool defender said: “No, he plays on the opposite flank! LFC currently have three players who could play from the left in Rio/Gakpo/Wirtz and no one who plays from the right.”
There are a few problems I see with Carragher’s argument
Firstly, which may on the surface level seem to support Carragher’s point, Liverpool also have Victor Munoz, who can also play on the left. But he also plays very well on the right.
Second, Florian Wirtz is not a left winger, and if anything was obvious last season, it was that the German is not going to find huge success on the left flank in the Premier League, no matter how good he was in that role in the Bundesliga.
Third, both Barcola and Ngumoha can play on the right wing.
Fourth, there have been several reliable reports in the last week suggesting that the attacking signings won’t stop with Barcola and Munoz.
Finally, Andoni Iraola deployed Rio Ngumoha on the right wing in their most recent pre-season friendly win over Wrexham. The youngster scored, albeit a bit luckily, from that role, and there’s nothing to suggest he won’t be used there moving forward.
More important than signing a top right winger is Liverpool’s need for an elite winger – regardless of the flank they play on.
