It’s no secret that Liverpool are looking to further improve the quality of their wide areas in the summer transfer window following Mohamed Salah’s arrival from Anfield at the end of last season.
The Egyptian international’s departure from the club leaves Andoni Iraola without a wide player who can provide consistent quality in the final third for next season.
Liverpool were looking to sign RB Leipzig winger Yann Diomande as a left-sided attacker, but they have decided that his priority is a move to Paris Saint-Germain, and it remains to be seen whether a deal will go through.
Another left winger who will not arrive at Anfield as a new signing this summer is Aston Villa and England star Morgan Rodgers.
How Liverpool missed out on signing Morgan Rodgers
The Reds contacted the Villans earlier this month to inquire about the England star’s status and to keep them informed of any changes, with a number of teams vying for his signature at the time.
25/26PL | morgan rogers |
|---|---|
Appearance | 37 |
xG | 6.78 |
the goal | 10 |
A big opportunity has arisen | 13 |
Shah | 4.30 |
assist | 6 |
Rodgers, who scored 10 goals and provided six assists in the 2025-26 Premier League season, would have been a great addition to Iraola’s squad to solve problems in his side.
The 23-year-old star also represented England at the World Cup, starting three games for the Three Lions and registering one assist, as well as setting up Jude Bellingham’s winning goal in the quarter-final against Norway.
However, the Reds and Arsenal both lost out heavily to rivals Chelsea, who agreed a staggering £117m deal with Villa to sign the attacking midfielder, making him the most expensive English player of all time.
Liverpool and the Gunners appear to have decided they are not willing to pay that much for the England international, allowing the Blues to win the race for him pending medical tests and other formalities.
However, missing out on the Rodgers and Diomand signings means that the wide pool of elite talent available to FSG is diminishing, which is why they need to act quickly in the coming weeks.
Liverpool target Morgan Rodgers in their own half
Now, the club are already eyeing a player valued at £117m who could arrive at Anfield this summer as their own version of the soon-to-be Chelsea star.
Liverpool are among the teams in the race to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window, according to reports from Spain.
Reports claim the Reds have been offered the chance to sign the French wing wizard during negotiations and would need a deal worth more than £60m to secure his availability.
However, he added that Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Barcelona have also been given the same opportunity, meaning this deal will not be easily completed.
The Frenchman came on for Desir Douet at half-time and ended up scoring the winning goal for his country, while Rodgers started but didn’t have a goal or an assist in his 10-goal game.
Barcola, who is touted at a price tag of £128 million, is similar to Rodgers in that both are left-sided forwards who can provide goals and assists regularly, but the Englishman can also play a more central role.
past 2 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
status | Rogers (PL) | Barcola (L1) |
Appearance | 74 | 63 |
xG | 13.36 | 24.41 |
the goal | 18 | twenty five |
A big opportunity has arisen | 29 | 29 |
Shah | 9.54 | 10.03 |
assist | 16 | 11 |
Over the past two league seasons, the France international has played nine fewer games than the £117m star, scored more goals and generated more xA for his team-mates.
Described by journalist Robin Byarner as “the next Mbappe”, Barcola has scored 54 goals and created “big chances” in 63 Ligue 1 games for PSG, proof that he can be the stable attacker Liverpool are looking for.
The 23-year-old winger has also scored five goals and provided eight assists in the last two Champions League seasons, winning both of them, but Rodgers is yet to prove himself at that level.
Liverpool could therefore secure an even more impactful signing than the left-sided England international in the coming weeks as they push to win the race for Barcora, who could be an improved version of Rodgers.
