Why Liverpool’s Barcola deal has not ended the winger scramble
Liverpool agreed a £120 million deal for Bradley Barcola, but the predominantly left-sided forward is not a direct positional replacement for Mohamed Salah and the club remains interested in another wide attacker. [5] Liverpool then rejected Manchester City’s £80 million bid for Cody Gakpo because of concern about finding a replacement, sending City back toward alternatives including Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye. [2]
Why it matters
The linked negotiations show how one elite transfer can intensify rather than resolve a market: Liverpool must balance Barcola’s fit with Gakpo’s future, while City needs width after allowing Savio and Omar Marmoush to join Tottenham. [2][5]
Key insights
- Barcola played 77% of his PSG minutes on the left and only 13% on the right, while Salah’s favored position was the right flank. [5]
- Among Ligue 1 wingers with at least 1,500 minutes last season, Barcola ranked in the 98th percentile for backline-challenging runs, opposition-box touches and successful attacking one-on-ones. [5]
- Tottenham is already in advanced talks for Ndiaye, with the player valued at £60 million, creating direct competition if City pivots away from Gakpo. [2]
- City did not name a winger among its substitutes against Crystal Palace and used Phil Foden, whom Enzo Maresca said is not a winger, out wide. [2]