Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender turned pundit, has voiced a clear opinion on the club's transfer strategy: Liverpool do not need to chase Paris Saint-Germain's French winger Bradley Barcola at this stage. Instead, Carragher insists the Reds should concentrate on finding a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah on the right side of the attack. According to a Sky Sports News report, Liverpool are preparing an initial bid for the 24‑year‑old Barcola, who has also attracted interest from Arsenal.
Some insiders estimate his market value at around £128.5 million, a figure that reflects his status as a highly rated prospect in Ligue 1. While the prospect of adding a player of Barcola's calibre is tempting, Carragher argues that Liverpool are already well‑stocked on the left flank, with options such as Cody Gakpo, the versatile Rio Ngumoha and the newly signed Victor Muñoz. He believes the club is over‑investing in one side of the pitch and neglecting the opposite wing, where the void left by Salah remains glaring. "He's a great player, there's no doubt about that – I would love to see Barcola at Liverpool," Carragher told Sky Sports.
"But in my mind he's a left winger. Liverpool's biggest glaring issue right now is finding a right winger to fill Salah's shoes. I don't see anyone in the current squad who feels completely comfortable on the right wing." He went on to point out that, even before any potential Barcola signing, Liverpool already have at least four players capable of operating on the left side. "I'm not saying any of those players are better than Barcola," Carragher added, "but in terms of squad balance, the position Liverpool need most is a right winger, not another left‑footed attacker." Carragher also addressed a hypothetical scenario in which Liverpool would sign Barcola and simultaneously bring in a right‑wing specialist.
"If the club were to do both, I would be thrilled because it would create competition and push players to improve. But as it stands, this summer should be about replacing Mo Salah. Barcola does not replace Mo Salah." The conversation then turned to the potential impact of a Barcola signing on the club's emerging talent, Rio Ngumoha.
Ngumoha, who turns 18 in August, enjoyed a breakout season last term, netting two goals in 19 Premier League appearances and earning plaudits for his pace and dribbling. Carragher was asked whether splashing out on Barcola could block Ngumoha's pathway to regular first‑team football. "That's a valid concern," he replied. "Rio is a young lad, he's really good, and I think he'll continue to develop after last season's performances.
However, paying a huge fee for a player who currently rates higher than Rio does raise questions about the club's long‑term planning." He continued, "In a year or two, Rio will want to be playing week in, week out for Liverpool. It's up to him to prove he deserves that role.
But when you invest that kind of money in a player for his position, you inevitably start to wonder about the development of the youngster you already have." Carragher highlighted that there has been talk of Ngumoha featuring on the right wing to gain minutes, a move that could be beneficial for his growth. "As a young player, learning to operate on both flanks can only help his versatility," he said.
"But his natural position is currently on the left, and that is where he feels most comfortable." Reflecting on Liverpool's previous transfer decisions, Carragher recalled the noise that followed Luis Diaz's departure last season. At that time, the narrative from the club was that they were not pursuing a left winger because Gakpo could fill that role, and they also wanted to avoid hindering Ngumoha's progress. "I understood that reasoning at the time," Carragher admitted, "but fast forward twelve months, Rio has proved himself to be a tasty prospect. Yet Liverpool are now willing to break the bank for a player in the same position they previously said they didn't need.
That inconsistency is puzzling." He summed up his confusion by noting that Liverpool's transfer strategy appears contradictory. "There are several things about Liverpool's current transfer approach that leave me scratching my head," he said. "If they can secure a right‑winger, bring Barcola in, and then offload a couple of the wide players they already have, that would make sense and would be fantastic for the squad balance." In essence, Carragher's message to the Liverpool hierarchy is straightforward: prioritize the right wing, secure a player who can directly step into Salah's role, and then consider whether adding a left‑footed talent like Barcola is truly necessary. By doing so, the club can maintain a balanced attack, protect the development of promising youngsters like Rio Ngumoha, and avoid over‑paying for positions that are already adequately covered.
This approach, he believes, will give Liverpool the best chance of staying competitive on multiple fronts in the upcoming season.