Many Liverpool supporters will be wondering how Andoni Iraola will be able to succeed at Anfield, but the answer will come during the next Premier League campaign.
The Spaniard made a winning start to pre-season with a 4-2 win over Sunderland on Saturday night, but there is only so much you can judge from non-competitive games.
However, attacker Kieran Morrison claims his manager has asked him to do “something I’ve never heard before”, and it appears he is already practicing a high-pressing style outside of possession.
The 19-year-old is unlikely to be part of the Reds’ first-team squad this term, but his close link-up with the 44-year-old means he will already have an advantage over the new signings.
FSG has stepped up its efforts to recruit attacking talent in recent weeks, but leaders should avoid signing big-money stars.
Why Liverpool should break with Bradley Barcola’s contract
Unless you’ve ever been in a bind, you’ll know that Liverpool have been relentless in their pursuit of PSG left-winger Bradley Barcola in recent weeks.
The Frenchman has emerged as the Reds’ first-choice attacker and the player himself is keen to leave the Ligue 1 outfit for a new challenge.
However, any deal would be a club record for Iraola’s men, as Iraola’s current employers have a staggering £145m price tag on the forward’s head.
Spending that kind of money on Barcora would be a big mistake on FSG’s part, and while the attacker is a capable option, he is definitely not worth the reported transfer fee.
Bradley Barcola – Career Goals by Season | ||
|---|---|---|
season | game | the goal |
2021/22 | 13 | 0 |
2022/23 | 31 | 7 |
2023/24 | 42 | 5 |
2024/25 | 58 | twenty one |
2025/26 | 55 | 13 |
Throughout the 2025/26 season, he appeared in 55 games, scoring 13 goals and providing 8 assists. This record was better than that of Reds midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, despite playing fewer games.
Such comparisons highlight his lack of success in the forward areas and raise the question of whether one would pay £145 million for a Hungarian international who is more prolific in the forward areas.
The PSG star is unproven in England’s top flight, which poses further risks and could see the forward become yet another huge waste of money on Merseyside.
How Liverpool could sign a bigger talent than Barcola this summer
Liverpool’s priority this summer will undoubtedly be to add even more attacking quality to the first team following the departure of fan favorite Mohamed Salah at the end of last season.
Hugo Ekitike’s injury and Kodi Gakpo’s struggles have only highlighted the need for reinforcements, and the Reds’ hierarchy may end up spending big once again.
Countless options have been discussed, but a reunion between Bournemouth winger Ryan and manager Iraola could well happen ahead of the 2026/27 season.
According to talkSPORT, the Brazilian attacker is considered a dream target for the club and the manager is keen to re-sign the 19-year-old star.
They also claim the forward has an £85m release clause, which comes into effect in the summer of 2027, and the move needs to take place to avoid paying over the odds.
It’s unclear how much this summer’s signing will cost, but the Reds will be signing a player who can develop into a world-class operator under Iraola’s guidance.
Compared to Barcola’s performance last season, Ryan managed to outperform the Frenchman despite the 2025/26 season being his first season in Europe’s top flight.
He scored an impressive 5 goals in just 15 league games and then scored 0.4 goals per 90 games. This figure was something PSG could not match.
In the aforementioned numbers, he is better than 91% of European attackers. This shows his great ability to find the back of the goal despite his young age.
As a result, he achieved a better goals per game and minutes per game ratio than the PSG players, and subsequently achieved this while operating with a lower quality outfit.
Rayan also succeeded in creating endless chances for the other attackers around him, as evidenced by his 0.9 big chances created per 90. This number is also twice that of Barcola.
Such numbers allow him to provide more important opportunities than 92% of forwards on the continent, making him a great all-round threat within the final third.
The Brazilian also outscored the £145m star at the recent World Cup, completing almost twice as many dribbles as he attempted in the United States.
Given the difference in immediate ability and the staggering price difference, it would be no surprise that Liverpool would move to sign Ryan over Barcola.
He could become an instant star at Anfield, having previously worked with Iraola and already knowing the demands of the Spaniard’s high-intensity system.
Considering he only joined the Cherries in January, it may be difficult to secure a contract, but given his young age, he could be a star player on Merseyside for the next 10 years.
