One trusted Liverpool reporter has seemingly hinted that the Reds’ pursuit of attacking reinforcements this summer mightn’t end if Bradley Barcola is signed.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward has been the primary transfer target at Anfield in recent weeks, with Fabrizio Romano claiming on Monday that the two clubs are now in discussions over a potential deal, following a reported bid of more than €100m (£85.6m) from Merseyside.
Even if the 23-year-old joins LFC, it still leaves Andoni Iraola with just the one natural senior right winger in Federico Chiesa, but that position could viably still be addressed in the remaining four weeks of the transfer window.
On the latest Media Matters podcast for Anfield Index, David Lynch suggested that Liverpool may seek to bring in another forward after Barcola, even if they land the Frenchman.
He said: “I think so, and again kind of further to conversations I’ve had, I think that’s the mindset as well. There really is a feeling they need to add more in attack and that’s not just kind of one in, one out with Barcola.
“I think there’s a feeling that they absolutely have to get Barcola over the line and then kind of see where they’re up to, but to add more because they feel like they’re a little bit short in that area.”
Lynch also voiced his belief that the France international will leave his current club, saying: “I still just think that the direction of travel here is clearly that Barcola leaves, isn’t it?
“I mean, I think what’s been apparent, I think I’ve said it on this podcast weeks and weeks ago, is that the conditions are there to expect him to leave PSG.”
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If Liverpool are to sign another forward in addition to Barcola this month, that’d constitute a big win for sporting director Richard Hughes, especially amid the current mood of discontent over the lack of first-team additions since Victor Munoz was acquired in mid-June.
Lynch’s words certainly offer much more hope to Kopites than those of Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam, who claimed over the past 48 hours that the Reds ‘will not go into the market’ for further reinforcements in August.
We’d be shocked if LFC don’t add at least one more player to Iraola’s squad before the 1 September deadline, but getting in two forwards (including Barcola) and a versatile defender who can play centrally and on the right seems difficult to envisage with only four weeks of the window remaining.
PSG reportedly value their player at £145m (The Athletic), so if Liverpool are to go big on the Champions League winner, the budget for further additions in the coming weeks would be heavily diminished (unless there are significant outgoings from Anfield in the meantime).
Right now it feels as though signing Barcola and a versatile defender before the deadline would be a result for the Reds, but if they can get another forward in on top of that, it’d put an altogether different complexion on what has thus far been an underwhelming transfer window.
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Barcola will come in and Gakpo will be sold to pay for most of it . Nothing wrong with that, but it does nothing for central, the full backs defence or the center midfield.
We struggled last season because we have too many lightweight players who can’t handle physical side of the Premier league. The midfield is the same that wasn’t good enough last season, over run out tackled, and bullied all season . It’s no good jumping for joy at buying wingers when we have one fit central defender who’s 35.
Frimpong and kirkez are not good enough defensively. Wirtz shoes the game down, weakens the midfield and doesn’t do enough to earn his 116 million price tag.
The big decisions have been bottled. Iraola inherits all the problems and weaknesses that got slot the sack. Good luck trying to play high intensity football three times a week with one of the weakest squads in the Premier league.
Good teams are built on a solid foundation, defence and midfield with a spine. It’s why Arsenal won last seasons Premier league league and why Spain won World Cup.
We won’t win anything until the defence is sorted out.
Wirtz does not slow the game down. He passes instantly or tries to. Last season you could see him looking for a through ball and there was nobody clever enough to get into position. He worked superbly with Ekitike at times. Gakpo didn’t have the brains or acceleration to get into those channels Wirtz was looking for. Salah was too old. Sboz for all his workrate is also not great at attacking the channels.
Kerkez is solid defensively. Robbo always had the advantage of having Sadio or Diaz to drop deep and cover whilst he squeezed inside. Kerkez had Gakpo who rarely dropped deep. Kerkez is technically better than Robbo. His close control and laying off passes is better. Robbo had a huge heart and gave everything and a great left foot for putting over dangerous crosses. Slot didn’t let Kerkez get forward as much so we didn’t see what he can do.
We need a right back definitely. Conor unfortunately is always injured so we can’t rely on him. Frimpong is not a right back. He is a wingback in a different set up.
Looks like Nyoni is going to get chances this season which probably squeezes out MacAllister and Jones (please god make that happen)
Got a few weeks left. I’m not panicking. We’ll wake up one morning and find we’ve signed a defender we’ve never heard of.
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