Michael Owen told liverpoolecho.co.uk: "Absolutely, yes. Losing Mo Salah and his goals and assists must be a concern right now. Liverpool need to look to add more depth in the forward areas."

The Reds' departure of Salah has left a void that the club's transfer approach has yet to adequately address. Liverpool finished the 2025 Premier League season with 60 points, fifth place—a position that underscores the urgency of replacing his output. Owen, a former Liverpool striker, believes the window for a smarter acquisition has already closed, and the club is now chasing an expensive, uncertain alternative.

The case for Jarrod Bowen

Owen's preferred solution was straightforward. "I would have gone more Jarrod Bowen as one player to come in as I believe he is very talented, Premier League-proven and could have fitted in really well and could have scored plenty of goals," he said.

Bowen's recent form supports that case. In his latest Premier League appearance, he posted a 7.7 rating with a goal and an assist. Over his previous five matches, he accumulated a goal and three assists. The West Ham winger is not a prospect; he is a tested operator delivering now, within English football's top division.

This availability within the Premier League carries a strategic advantage. No adaptation period. No culture shock. No wait. A player who has already proven himself at the required level, ready to step in immediately.

Instead, Liverpool are pursuing Bradley Barcola at Paris Saint-Germain. "Right now it seems Liverpool are putting all their time in looking to secure Barcola from PSG, although at a huge price tag it may mean that one of the attacking players may have to make way for him to join," Owen said.

Barcola impressed at the 2026 World Cup, posting 3 goals and a 7.09 rating across 8 appearances. Club form at PSG is a different metric. A costly transfer carries no guarantee of immediate output or fit, and the price tag may force Liverpool to sacrifice depth elsewhere.

The recovery gamble

The forward line is further strained by injury recovery timelines and squad imbalance. Alexander Isak cost over £100m and spent four months sidelined with a broken leg. His World Cup performance reached an 8.9 rating with a goal and two assists, but international tournaments do not prove match fitness for domestic league play.

Florian Wirtz faced similar adaptation challenges. The £100m+ arrival from the summer window struggled in his first season, a reminder that expensive recruitment alone does not guarantee impact.

Earlier in the window, Liverpool signed Victor Munoz from Osasuna for £34.5m, adding depth but not addressing the elite-level output Salah provided. That recruitment has proven cautious where the moment called for decisiveness.

In midfield, Curtis Jones is in the final year of his contract, an additional departure risk. Owen's underlying concern is straightforward: Liverpool are pursuing an expensive, uncertain acquisition while a proven, immediate alternative was available. Whether the club can still shift course remains to be seen.

FAQ

Should Liverpool have pursued Jarrod Bowen over Bradley Barcola?

Michael Owen believes so. Bowen is Premier League-proven, delivering 1 goal and 3 assists over his last five matches. Barcola's World Cup form (3 goals, 7.09 rating) does not reflect his club performance at PSG, and his price tag may force Liverpool to sacrifice depth elsewhere.

Why is Michael Owen critical of Liverpool's transfer strategy?

Owen argues that Liverpool had an opportunity to sign a tested, immediate solution in Jarrod Bowen but instead chose to pursue the expensive, uncertain Bradley Barcola. With only 60 points from 38 matches this season (5th place), Liverpool urgently needed proven depth.

Is Alexander Isak match-fit after his injury?

Isak cost over £100m and spent four months recovering from a broken leg. While he posted an 8.9 rating at the World Cup (1 goal, 2 assists), international performance does not guarantee match fitness for domestic league play, Owen notes.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →