Bradley Barcola and Bukayo Saka were spotted having a short conversation after the World Cup bronze match, with some Liverpool fans on social media reading plenty into it
08:53, 19 Jul 2026
Bukayo Saka and Bradley Barcola during England 6-4 France at the World Cup.
Bukayo Saka and Bradley Barcola during England 6-4 France at the World Cup.(Image: Jose Hernandez/Anadolu via Getty Images)
It doesn't take much for some on social media to go into meltdown. And after England's 6-4 victory over France at the World Cup, a remarkable third-place play-off, some Liverpool fans did exactly that.
Bradley Barcola was spotted briefly exchanging words and a joke with Bukayo Saka, and of course that led to several tweets about the pair perhaps hinting that the PSG forward could end up signing for Arsenal this summer.
With Liverpool interested as it looks to bolster its forward line, does that mean the end of a possible Barcola move? Of course not, but that didn't stop some taking the chance to express their concern.
Andoni Iraola spoke this week about the need to add to his forward line. He also expressed a desire not to attempt the impossible: replacing Mohamed Salah directly.
Someone will need to come in on the right-hand side, but that person cannot be expected to deliver what Salah did. That level of output was an anomaly.
With only Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz signed, however, some Liverpool fans are starting to worry that not enough transfer business has been done, with pre-season already underway.
Andoni Iraola, the new manager for English Premier League football side Liverpool, walks out to meet the media at the team's training ground
Andoni Iraola is looking to get some fresh faces in at Liverpool during the summer transfer window(Image: (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images))
"I'm absolutely shocked," Reds legend Steve Nicol said this week. "Pre-season has already started. They’ve already let more go again this year than they’ve brought in.
"They’ve brought in a young defender who’s as raw as the day is long. Victor Munoz is a head-scratcher, and that’s it? I don’t know what to say.
"The whole rumor thing — even with the rumors, we’re only talking about two players. I’m sorry, I’m completely befuddled here. I’ve no idea what’s going on.
"Absolutely, 100 percent, they should have more signings by now, and the longer it goes without any [more], it just tells you they’re going to end up gambling when they shouldn’t be.
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"They’ve just spent £100M on two players that we don’t know whether they’ll be starting if they had a game tomorrow.
"They need five or six. I tell you what, I hope the bank balance is in good shape, because it’ll have to be."
In a World Cup year, though, things are normally different. More signings are required at Anfield, but it is not as if Liverpool doesn't know that or isn't working to change it.
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While pre-season has started, very few senior players are there yet. That will change in the next couple of weeks.