For most Liverpool fans, the club's business in the 2026 transfer window likely represents something of a mixed bag. In the end the Reds got their big money move for Bradley Barcola across the line, and the 24year-old French international left winger certainly ticks a lot of boxes on the need front.
His ability to progress the ball and create high qaulity goal scoring opportunities is elite, and the rapid winger's underlying numbers were better than the goal or ******* ist every 148 minutes he had last season—and his numbers hold up in the Champions League and with France at the international level.
Squad balance issues aside and leaving out the fact Mohamed Salah played on the right, Liverpool spent £125M to sign their so-called Salah replacement and it's hard to see an obvious better option they could have or should have moved for. Yet it's hard to completely set aside those squad balance issues.
Liverpool head into the season with four wingers in Barcola, Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, and Victor Muñoz all more comfortable on the left. They have no players of that calibre naturally comfortable on the right. No players. Zero. Unless we think this is the year Federico Chiesa comes good. And stays fit.
In defence, the opportunistic signing of centre half Ronald Araujo was heartening, but a deadline day push for Chelsea's Malo Gusto on loan highlighted that the club are desperately thin at fullback, the options they have aren't entirely convincing, and the club knew it—and then failed to fix things.
#Liverpool #salah #squad #international
His ability to progress the ball and create high qaulity goal scoring opportunities is elite, and the rapid winger's underlying numbers were better than the goal or ******* ist every 148 minutes he had last season—and his numbers hold up in the Champions League and with France at the international level.
Squad balance issues aside and leaving out the fact Mohamed Salah played on the right, Liverpool spent £125M to sign their so-called Salah replacement and it's hard to see an obvious better option they could have or should have moved for. Yet it's hard to completely set aside those squad balance issues.
Liverpool head into the season with four wingers in Barcola, Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, and Victor Muñoz all more comfortable on the left. They have no players of that calibre naturally comfortable on the right. No players. Zero. Unless we think this is the year Federico Chiesa comes good. And stays fit.
In defence, the opportunistic signing of centre half Ronald Araujo was heartening, but a deadline day push for Chelsea's Malo Gusto on loan highlighted that the club are desperately thin at fullback, the options they have aren't entirely convincing, and the club knew it—and then failed to fix things.
#Liverpool #salah #squad #international
7 days ago
