"Liverpool's big thing that stands out like a sore thumb right now is replacing Mo Salah, a right winger. And I don't think Liverpool have got anybody really in the squad who looks fully comfortable playing right wing," Jamie Carragher told metro.co.uk.
Mohamed Salah exited Liverpool on a free transfer at the end of the 2025-26 season, leaving the club without a ready-made replacement for their most prolific creative winger. That void has shaped the entire summer transfer window — and explains why Bradley Barcola, a brilliant left-sided winger from Paris Saint Germain, is not the answer, even if his price were to fall.
The valuation deadlock
Paris Saint Germain are asking £130 million for Barcola, with some reports suggesting a £145 million valuation. Liverpool's opening offer was €115 million (£98.5 million). More recent reports indicate Liverpool have tabled an agreement in principle at €128 million (£109 million), but that still falls short of PSG's asking price. The gap — £21 million at minimum — has stalled any movement toward a deal.
Arsenal, who prepared to make Vinicius Junior the highest-paid player in Premier League history before he signed a new Real Madrid contract, have also expressed interest in Barcola but will not meet PSG's valuation either.
Left winger in a right-winger crisis
But the fee disagreement may mask a deeper tactical problem. Carragher's central critique cuts through the noise: "But right now, I felt this summer would be about replacing Mo Salah. Barcola doesn't replace Mo Salah."
Barcola is an elite attacking talent — he scored 13 goals and 7 assists in 49 appearances for PSG last season across all competitions, and impressed at the World Cup with 3 goals in 8 appearances. Yet he operates almost exclusively from the left wing. Liverpool do not need another left-sided option. They need a natural right-winger, someone to fill the gap Salah's exit created and stabilize an attack that managed only 63 goals across 38 Premier League matches last season, finishing 5th.
The numbers suggest the mismatch will resolve itself. Liverpool and Arsenal are unlikely to stretch beyond €120 million for a player who doesn't solve their actual problem. Paris Saint Germain will not budge below £130 million. In that gap, both sides may find relief — the summer saga resolves, and Liverpool turns to a genuine right-winger who fits their need.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
