Bradley Barcola is one of Liverpool's main transfer targets this summer — but Jamie Carragher does not see the Frenchman as a like-for-like replacement for Mohamed Salah
Jamie Carragher has offered his opinion
Jamie Carragher has offered his opinion(Image: The Overlap)
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool should focus on signing a right-winger before the transfer window slams shut next month.
The Reds are hoping to sign Bradley Barcola, a left-winger by trade, from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. While PSG is on the verge of signing two new forwards, Ferran Torres and Mika Godts, the French club is refusing to sell Barcola to Liverpool on the cheap.
Yet it's hoped a deal can be agreed. Liverpool legend Carragher will be delighted to see Barcola walk through the door at Anfield, but he doesn't see him as a like-for-like replacement for Mohamed Salah, the legendary Egyptian forward who has just joined Trabzonspor.
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Salah played on the right wing for Liverpool, and his exit has left a vacancy in Andoni Iraola's starting XI. While Carragher accepts that Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Koumas can both play on the right, he's concerned about Liverpool's lack of a world-class right-winger.
Speaking on The Overlap, Carragher said: "I mentioned this a few weeks ago, and I feel like you're being negative, but I got interviewed by sort of Sky, you know, 'Is Barcola the replacement for Salah?' And you're a bit like — it's so obvious that he isn't.
"It's like, I know someone is just asking you the question, but he's a left-winger, and we've already got three.
Bradley Barcola could be edging closer to an exit from Paris Saint-Germain
Bradley Barcola could be edging closer to an exit from Paris Saint-Germain(Image: Getty Images)
"Now, I'm not saying they're good enough, and I'm not saying I don't want Barcola, because if we could move (Cody) Gakpo on and bring Barcola in, we've got two young players. You've got maybe Rio behind him (Barcola), or maybe Rio could go to the right.
"But in Liverpool's last preseason game, it almost looked like a first-choice XI, really, when you looked at the team. The right-winger was the young lad Koumas. I mean, not even what you'd call a squad player right now.
"Now, he might be that next season, but almost like a young kid. You're thinking, it stands out that much that Liverpool haven't got a right-winger. You're thinking, 'How has this happened?'"
The Reds are lacking options in attack. Alexander Isak is the only established center-forward after Hugo Ekitike suffered an Achilles injury in April; the latter is hoping to play again before Christmas, but there's every chance he may not be fit until the spring.
Florian Wirtz could be deployed anywhere along the front three, but he's an attacking midfielder by trade. Federico Chiesa is another option, but he prefers to play on the left and has struggled to put together a run of games since joining Liverpool two years ago.
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As Carragher mentioned, Koumas has played for Liverpool in preseason, but he lacks experience at the highest level and spent last term on loan in the Championship.
Victor Munoz has just arrived from Osasuna and can play down the right, but he prefers to play on the left. Jeremie Frimpong is another option at right wing, although he's a full-back by trade, and the Reds are also short in that defensive position.
Harvey Elliott is another choice, but like Wirtz, he is an attacking midfielder. Gakpo prefers to play on the left, but he could be deployed down the middle.