Jamie Carragher conceded that Liverpool is far from a finished product, even after the Reds officially completed the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain
Jamie Carragher acknowledged Liverpool still has 'more work to do' after signing Bradley Barcola
Jamie Carragher acknowledged Liverpool still has 'more work to do' after signing Bradley Barcola(Image: Sky Sports)
Jamie Carragher admitted that Liverpool still has “more work to do” after acquiring forward Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.
Following weeks of speculation, Liverpool officially completed the signing of Barcola, agreeing to pay a guaranteed £106 million ($144 million) for the 23-year-old, with an additional £17 million ($23m) in performance-based add-ons available. Upon inking a five-year contract with The Reds, he became the second-most-expensive signing in the club’s history — trailing only Alexander Isak, who came to Anfield from Newcastle in a £125 million ($169m) deal last September.
While making an appearance on Sky Sports, Carragher argued that the Reds got Barcola at a “decent price,” adding: “It is a lot of money, but when I think of the other transfers this season, I think … the initial price is about £100 million.
“The rest are in add-ons, which I think are not just things on appearances. I think he's got to achieve big things at Liverpool to get those add-ons.
“So when you consider what other players have been going for as well, I don't think it's a bad price to be fair.”
As for how Barcola will be used on Andoni Iraola's side, Carragher noted that the France international will likely serve primarily as a left winger. Questions remain, however, about how the right side will take shape.
“He's going to go straight into this left-wing position now,” Carragher said of Barcola. “Listen, I've been critical slightly of Liverpool, sort of how they've gone about the business, but there's no doubt he's a huge upgrade on what they've got in terms of left wing positions.
Bradley Barcola is Liverpool's second-most-expensive signing in club history
Bradley Barcola is Liverpool's second-most-expensive signing in club history(Image: Getty Images)
“And I just think on the right side for me, it looks like Gakpo’s staying, he's on there. Listen, he did great at the weekend, great cross for the goal.
“But it's not natural for him, so I think they'll almost have to fudge the right side a little bit with Munoz, Gakpo, Rio and Ngumoha as well. They're not natural players for that side.”
Though Carragher welcomed the addition of Barcola, he couldn’t help but note that Liverpool is still a major work in progress despite giving out major contracts in recent years.
“When you actually look at it now, when you look at sort of Barcola, Wirtz and Isak as … three players over £100m, and we're still probably not talking about this Liverpool team as being a team who we think can win the league,” he added.
“It's amazing, it's fascinating, isn't it really, when you think about that. Because the nature of how the squad's been put together now, there's still more work to do, really.”
Regardless, Carragher asserted that Barcola’s arrival was not only a win for Liverpool, but the Premier League as a whole. “The Premier League is lacking a little bit of stardust with certain players,” he acknowledged.
“[Barcola] should provide that, not just for Liverpool, but the Premier League as well.”