Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has voiced a clear opinion on the club's upcoming transfer strategy, arguing that the Reds should focus their resources on finding a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah rather than pursuing French winger Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint‑Germain. In a recent interview with Sky Sports News, Carragher explained that while Barcola is a talented player, he primarily operates on the left flank, a position Liverpool already have several options for, such as Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha and the newly‑signed Victor Munoz. The former defender warned that adding Barcola would essentially create an overload on one side of the pitch, leaving a glaring gap on the opposite wing where Salah’s departure still looms large.
Carragher began by acknowledging Barcola’s quality, stating, “He’s a great player, there’s no doubt about that – I’d love to get Barcola at Liverpool.” However, he quickly clarified his concern: “He’s a left winger for me. Liverpool’s big thing that stands out like a sore thumb right now is replacing Mo Salah, a right winger. And I don’t think Liverpool have got anybody really in the squad who looks fully comfortable playing right wing.” According to recent transfer rumors, Liverpool are preparing an opening bid for Barcola, who is also being chased by Arsenal and is reportedly valued at around £128.5 million by the Parisian side.
Carragher warned that even if the deal goes through, it would not address the immediate tactical imbalance caused by Salah’s exit. “They probably have at least four players in the squad before Barcola joins, if he joins, who could play on the left‑hand side comfortably,” he said. “Now, I’m not saying any of those players are better than Barcola.
But in terms of the balance of the squad, it’s not the position Liverpool need right now. They need a right winger.” The former defender also hinted that a dual approach—signing Barcola while also securing a right‑wing specialist—could be a viable solution, but he stressed that the priority should be the latter. “If you’re saying to me, ‘Do I want Barcola to come and Liverpool are going to sign a right winger as well?’ I’ll be absolutely delighted because players would have to move on. Of course they would,” Carragher replied.
“But right now, I felt this summer would be about replacing Mo Salah. Barcola doesn’t replace Mo Salah.” Carragher’s comments also touched on the potential impact of a Barcola signing on Liverpool’s promising young talent, Rio Ngumoha. The 18‑year‑old winger, who turned 18 in August, enjoyed a breakout season last term, netting two goals in 19 Premier League appearances.
When asked whether Barcola could block Ngumoha’s pathway to regular first‑team football, Carragher admitted that it was a legitimate concern. “That is a thought. Rio’s a young lad, he’s really good.
I think he’s going to kick on from where he did last season. But that is a point: you’re buying a really young player for a lot of money in Barcola, who’s better than Rio Ngumoha right now.” He added that Ngumoha could still develop by playing on both wings, but emphasized that the club must be careful not to hinder his progression. “There’s talk that Rio Ngumoha could play on the right and get some minutes there. As a young player, that’s fine, playing on both sides.
But I think his position is the left‑right now.” Carragher reflected on the club’s previous stance when Liverpool sold Luis Diaz, noting that the management had publicly stated they were not pursuing a left winger because Gakpo and Ngumoha were already covering that area. “When Liverpool sold Luis Diaz, the noise was coming from the club: we’re not buying a left winger because we’ve got Gakpo – and we also don’t want to block the path of Rio Ngumoha,” he recalled.
“Now, a year later, Rio has proven himself a tasty player, yet the club appears ready to break the bank for someone in that same position. That inconsistency is puzzling.” In summary, Carragher believes Liverpool’s transfer window should be guided by strategic squad balance rather than simply adding high‑profile names. He suggested a possible scenario: “If they go out and get a player for the right wing, bring Barcola in and then sell a couple of the wide players that they have on the books right now, I think that’d be fantastic.” This approach would address the immediate need for a right‑wing replacement while still allowing the club to benefit from Barcola’s talent without overcrowding the left side.
Overall, Carragher’s message is clear: Liverpool must prioritize a right‑wing solution to fill the void left by Salah, ensure the continued development of promising youngsters like Ngumoha, and avoid creating positional redundancies that could hamper the team’s tactical flexibility. By aligning their spending with these priorities, the Reds can maintain a balanced squad capable of competing at the highest level in the coming season.