Jamie Carragher has framed Bradley Barcola as a good player in the wrong role for Liverpool. His point is simple enough: the club’s bigger job is replacing Mohamed Salah on the right, not adding another left-sided winger. That is where he sees the summer business starting.

Carragher's Salah point

Carragher said Liverpool's standout issue is replacing Mohamed Salah on the right wing. He was even more direct about Barcola, saying the PSG forward is a left winger and does not replace Salah. He also said Liverpool already have at least four players who could play on the left comfortably.

The criticism is not aimed at Barcola's quality. It is aimed at fit. Carragher's argument is that Liverpool can like the player and still be solving the wrong problem if they treat a left-sided attacker as the answer to a right-wing vacancy.

Liverpool finished 5th last season and scored 63 league goals, so there is no shortage of evidence that the attack needs sharp thinking. A side that productive still has room for a clearer right-sided solution, especially if Salah is the hole to fill.

PSG talks and the fee problem

The deal is not dead, though. Fabrizio Romano said the key point is the transfer fee, while adding there would be no problem with the player's contract, personal terms or the project. Romano also said Barcola is very keen on Liverpool and excited by the move.

That is where the financial side starts to bite. Paris Saint Germain are reported to want €170 million for Barcola, and another report says his contract runs until 2028. Even with interest from Liverpool, that is the kind of package that turns a good idea into a difficult one.

Barcola has 8 appearances this season, with 3 goals and a 7.09 rating. Those are the sort of numbers that explain why he is being discussed at this level, but they do not change Carragher's basic point about squad balance. If Liverpool are paying premium money, it still has to be for the right position.

Romano has also said the financial agreement with Paris Saint Germain is the real challenge and could take time because they have already lost several attacking players and are still completing other business. Reports have linked Liverpool with Maghnes Akliouche as well, but Carragher's view is that the first priority remains the same: a right winger who actually replaces Salah.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →