Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has voiced a clear opinion on the club's current transfer strategy: Liverpool do not need to chase Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain at this stage. Instead, Carragher urges the Reds to concentrate on finding a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah on the right flank. According to a report from Sky Sports News, Liverpool are reportedly preparing an initial bid for the 24‑year‑old French winger.
Barcola has attracted interest from several top clubs, including Arsenal, and is said to be valued at around £128.5 million by the French champions. While the figure is eye‑catching, Carragher argues that adding another left‑winger would create an imbalance in the squad rather than solving the pressing issue of a right‑wing vacancy.
Carragher points out that Liverpool already possess a number of options on the left side of the pitch – Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha and the newly signed Victor Munoz – meaning the team is already well‑stocked in that area. "He’s a great player, no doubt about that – I would love to see Barcola at Liverpool," Carragher told Sky Sports. "But he is a left winger in my mind." The former Liverpool stalwart stresses that the club's most glaring weakness at the moment is finding a suitable successor for Salah, who remains a key figure on the right wing. "Liverpool’s biggest glaring issue right now is replacing Mo Salah, a right winger.
I don’t think we have anyone in the squad who feels completely comfortable on the right flank," he said. "Before Barcola arrives, we probably have at least four players who could slot in comfortably on the left, but none who can truly fill the void on the right." Carragher makes it clear that he is not discounting Barcola’s talent. "I’m not saying any of those left‑wing players are better than Barcola. However, when you look at squad balance, the position Liverpool need right now is a right winger," he explained.
"If you were to ask me whether I would be happy if Liverpool signed Barcola and also secured a right‑winger, I would be delighted – it would give the squad depth on both sides and potentially free up other players. But the priority this summer should be finding a direct replacement for Salah.
Barcola does not replace Salah." The conversation then shifted to the potential impact of signing Barcola on the development of young talent within the club, particularly Rio Ngumoha. The teenage winger, who turned 18 in August, enjoyed a breakthrough season last term, netting two goals in 19 Premier League appearances. Carragher acknowledged that bringing in a high‑profile player like Barcola could limit Ngumoha’s pathway to regular first‑team football.
"That is a thought," Carragher admitted when asked about Ngumoha’s future. "Rio is a young lad, very talented, and I expect him to build on his progress from last season. But when you spend a huge sum on a player who is currently ahead of Rio in the pecking order, it does raise questions." He went on to note that while Ngumoha could be deployed on the right side to gain minutes, his natural position is currently on the left. "There’s talk that Rio could play on the right and get some minutes there, which is fine for a youngster to be versatile.
But his preferred side is the left at the moment." Carragher also reflected on the club’s previous stance after the sale of Luis Diaz, when Liverpool publicly stated they were not pursuing a left‑winger because they already had Gakpo and wanted to protect Ngumoha’s development. "A year ago the message was clear: we weren’t buying a left winger to avoid blocking Rio’s progress. Now, twelve months later, they are prepared to spend a massive fee on Barcola, a left‑winger, which seems contradictory," he said. He concluded that the current transfer approach leaves him somewhat puzzled.
"There are several things happening in the transfer market that I’m still scratching my head about. If Liverpool were to sign a right‑winger, bring Barcola in, and then offload a couple of the existing wide players, that would make a lot of sense and would be fantastic for squad balance." In summary, Carragher’s message is straightforward: Liverpool should prioritize acquiring a right‑winger who can step into Salah’s shoes. While Barcola is undeniably talented, his arrival would merely add depth to an already well‑covered left side and could hinder the progression of promising youngsters like Rio Ngumoha. The club’s transfer strategy would benefit from a clear focus on the right flank, ensuring that the team remains balanced and that emerging talents continue to receive opportunities to develop at the highest level.