Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has voiced his opinion that the club’s transfer agenda this summer should focus on finding a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah on the right flank, rather than pursuing French winger Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint‑Germain. Carragher, who now works as a pundit, told Sky Sports News that while Barcola is an impressive talent, he is primarily a left‑winger and would not address Liverpool’s most pressing need.
According to recent reports, Liverpool are preparing an initial bid for Barcola, a 24‑year‑old French international who has attracted interest from Arsenal and is reportedly valued at around £128.5 million by the Parisian side. The Merseyside club already have several options on the left side of the attack, including Cody Gakpo, the versatile Rio Ngumoha and the newly signed Victor Munoz.
Carragher argues that piling up talent on one wing could create an imbalance in the squad, leaving the right side under‑served now that Salah is set to leave Anfield. "He's a great player, there's no doubt about that – I would love to see Barcola at Liverpool," Carragher said. "But in my mind he is a left‑winger. Liverpool’s glaring issue at the moment is finding a right‑winger to replace Mo Salah.
I don’t see anyone in the current squad who feels completely comfortable on the right flank." He continued, "Before Barcola arrives, we already have at least four players who could slot in on the left. That’s not the area where we need reinforcements. If the club decides to sign Barcola, they should also bring in a right‑winger to keep the balance of the team intact." Carragher also highlighted the potential impact on the club’s emerging talent, particularly 18‑year‑old Rio Ngumoha. The teenage winger impressed last season with two goals in 19 Premier League appearances and is widely regarded as a promising prospect for the future.
When asked whether Barcola’s arrival could hinder Ngumoha’s development, Carragher acknowledged the risk. "Rio is a young lad, he’s really good and I think he’ll continue to improve," Carragher said. "But spending a huge sum on Barcola, who is currently a better player than Rio, raises questions.
If Liverpool invest heavily in a left‑winger, they might limit the opportunities for a home‑grown talent who could become a regular starter in the coming years." He added, "There’s talk that Rio could be used on the right wing to get minutes, and that flexibility is fine for a youngster. However, his natural position is on the left, and that’s where the club has already stocked up. The confusion for me is why Liverpool would break the bank for a left‑winger when they previously said they didn’t want to block Rio’s path after selling Luis Díaz." Carragher recalled the reaction when Liverpool sold Luis Díaz last season.
At that time, the prevailing narrative was that the club didn’t need another left‑winger because Gakpo could cover that area, and the board wanted to protect Ngumoha’s development. "A year later, Rio has proven himself, yet the club appears ready to spend a massive fee on a player in the same position," Carragher remarked.
"It feels contradictory." He concluded with a clear recommendation: "If Liverpool are serious about strengthening the squad, they should first secure a right‑winger to replace Salah. Then, if they still see value in Barcola, they could bring him in and possibly offload some of the existing wide players.
That would make sense from a tactical and financial perspective." In summary, Carragher’s analysis suggests that Liverpool’s transfer strategy needs to be more nuanced. While Barcola offers quality and could add depth on the left, the immediate priority should be to address the right‑wing vacancy left by Salah’s departure.
Balancing the squad, protecting young talent like Ngumoha, and avoiding unnecessary expenditure on a position already well‑stocked are the key points he emphasizes as the club navigates the upcoming summer window.