Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender turned pundit, has voiced a clear opinion on the club's upcoming transfer strategy: Liverpool should not waste resources on signing Paris Saint‑Germain winger Bradley Barcola, but instead focus on finding a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah on the right flank. Carragher's comments came after Sky Sports News reported that Liverpool were preparing an initial bid for the 24‑year‑old French international, a player also linked with Arsenal and reportedly valued at around £128.5 million by the Parisian side. While Liverpool have already bolstered their left‑wing options with the likes of Cody Gakpo, the newly signed Victor Muñoz and the promising youngster Rio Ngumoha, Carragher warned that the club is over‑stocking one side of the pitch and neglecting the other. "Barcola is a fantastic talent, no doubt about it," he told Sky Sports, "but he is fundamentally a left‑winger.
Liverpool's glaring weakness at the moment is a right‑winger who can fill the void left by Mo Salah." He went on to explain that before any potential Barcola signing, Liverpool already have at least four players capable of operating on the left side, making the addition of another left‑footed attacker somewhat redundant. "I'm not saying those players are better than Barcola," Carragher clarified, "but in terms of squad balance, the priority should be a right‑winger, not another left‑winger." Carragher also addressed the hypothetical scenario of Liverpool signing Barcola while simultaneously acquiring a right‑winger. "If the club were to bring in Barcola and also secure a quality right‑winger, I would be thrilled," he said. "That would allow the current wide players to move on, which is inevitable.
However, the immediate summer window should be about replacing Salah, and Barcola does not address that need." The former defender also raised concerns about the impact of a Barcola signing on the development of Rio Ngumoha, the 18‑year‑old academy graduate who broke through last season with two Premier League goals in 19 appearances. Carragher acknowledged that investing heavily in a young player like Barcola could potentially block Ngumoha's pathway to regular first‑team football. "Rio is a very talented youngster and I expect him to continue improving," Carragher said. "But spending a huge sum on Barcola, who is currently a better player than Rio, does raise questions about the club's long‑term planning." He noted that Liverpool had previously stated they did not need a left‑winger because Gakpo could fill that role, and they wanted to protect Ngumoha's progression.
"A year ago the narrative was clear: we have Gakpo on the left and we don't want to hinder Rio's development," Carragher recalled. "Now, twelve months later, Liverpool are prepared to break the bank for a left‑winger, which seems contradictory." Carragher concluded by outlining a possible solution: sign a dedicated right‑winger, bring Barcola in as a versatile option, and then offload some of the existing wide players who may become surplus to requirements. "If they can secure a right‑winger, add Barcola for depth, and trim the squad accordingly, that would be an ideal approach," he said. "It would address the immediate need for a Salah replacement while also giving the club flexibility on both flanks." In summary, Carragher's analysis emphasizes three key points for Liverpool's transfer window: first, the urgent requirement for a right‑winger who can replicate Salah's goal‑scoring threat; second, the risk of overcrowding the left side with another winger when the squad already has sufficient options; and third, the importance of protecting the development trajectory of young talents like Rio Ngumoha.
By aligning their spending with these priorities, Liverpool can maintain a balanced squad, avoid unnecessary redundancy, and ensure that promising academy graduates continue to receive opportunities at the highest level.