Liverpool are closing in on a mega money deal to land Bradley Barcola but Carragher admits he is 'slightly confused' at the pending deal at Anfield this summer.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher(Image: Sky Sports)
Jamie Carragher has confessed he has been "scratching his head" over Liverpool's pursuit of Bradley Barcola.
The Reds are on the verge of securing the Frenchman's signature following an agreement being struck overnight with Paris Saint-Germain for a $163million deal with $136m of that being guaranteed.
The left-sided wide man has been the main target this summer for the club and they look to finally have landed their priority with just a few days left in the window. For former defender Carragher, though, he believes the other side of the Liverpool attack should have been the prime concern this summer with the club having lost Mo Salah at the end of last season.
In the 48-year-old's opinion, Liverpool already has a plethora of left-wing options within its squad while the right-flank is somewhat short of cover. That's why Carra has urged the Anfield outfit to reinforce its right-side while shipping out fringe players if Barcola is to arrive.
READ MORE: Bradley Barcola transfer fee broken down as Liverpool reaches PSG 'agreement'
"It looks as though Liverpool have one target at the moment and it's the one everyone's talking about," Carra said on Sky Sports. "He's a left-winger for me and for me the big thing that stands out like a sore thumb right now is that we need to replace Mo Salah, a right-winger.
"I don't think Liverpool have got anybody in the squad who looks fully comfortable playing right-wing. Whereas right now I think they probably have at least four players in the squad before Barcola joins, if he joins, who can play on the left-hand side comfortably.
"Now, I'm not saying any of those players are better than Barcola, but in terms of balance of the squad, it's not the position Liverpool need right now. They need a right-winger.
"If you're saying to me, 'Do I want Barcola to come and Liverpool are gonna sign a right-winger as well', I'd be absolutely delighted because players would have to move on of course, but right now - and I thought this summer would be about replacing Mo Salah - Barcola doesn't replace Salah."
Could Barcola prevent Rio Ngumoha's progress on the same flank if he arrives in the coming days? Carragher believes that could be the case. The Sky Sports pundit does also, however, reckon the 17-year-old still has a shot of making it.
Bradley Barcola of PSG looks on during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Stade Brestois 29 at Parc des Princes
Bradley Barcola of PSG looks on during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Stade Brestois 29 at Parc des Princes(Image: Getty Images)
"That's a thought but Rio's a young lad, I think he's really good. I think he's going to kick on from last season and that's another point that you buy a really young player for a lot of money in Barcola who is better than Rio right now.
"But you'd think eventually in the next year or two, Rio would wanna be playing week-in, week-out for Liverpool and that's up to him to prove it. When you pay that type of money for a young player in his position, it leaves you scratching your head a little bit.
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"There's talk that Rio could play on the right now and get some minutes there. As a young player that's fine, play both sides, but I think his position is the left right now. And the reason I'm a little bit confused with that because last season when Liverpool sold Luis Diaz, the noises coming from the club was that, 'We're not buying a left-winger because we've got Gakpo and don't wanna block Rio's path'. You think, 'Okay, I understand that to a certain extent'. But Rio is now 12 months on, he's proven he looks a tasty player and Liverpool might have a player there for the future.
"So 12 months on Liverpool are going to break the bank for someone in his position when 12 months earlier when Rio hadn't proved anything, they didn't wanna block his path?
"There's a few things Liverpool transfer wise that I'm still scratching my head a little bit. But if they go and bring in someone on the right-wing, sign Barcola and sell some wide players they have on their books, that would be fantastic."