It’s no secret that FSG are looking to add much-needed depth and quality to their frontline following Mohamed Salah’s departure from Liverpool at the end of last season.
Víctor Muñoz has already arrived at Anfield, but Andoni Iraola will no doubt be looking for additional reinforcements to ensure success in the Premier League next season.
Bradley Barcola has always been mentioned as one of the Reds’ transfer targets, with PSG reportedly demanding more than £100m for the France international.
But that won’t prevent the Reds from stepping up their efforts, with reports claiming that an £85m offer could even be made for the 23-year-old within days.
Iraola talks about Liverpool’s search for a new winger
Iraola, who left Bournemouth to join Liverpool this summer, will no doubt have high hopes for success on Merseyside in 2026/27 and beyond.
The Spaniard will no doubt be working with better players at Anfield, but that doesn’t mean he’s desperate for additional reinforcements to strengthen the senior ranks.
After visiting the United States for the club’s pre-season tour, the 44-year-old met with the media and answered questions about his expectations for the upcoming campaign.
Iraola also confirmed that the recruitment of new players this summer, particularly wingers, is currently underway, saying: “It’s hard to say numbers when the market is open.
Andoni Iraola’s Premier League record | |
|---|---|
statistics | tally |
managed games | 114 |
victory | 41 |
draw | 38 |
loss | 35 |
Number of points scored | 170 |
Number of goals conceded | 167 |
Points earned | 161 |
Points per game | 1.41 |
“You always have to be open to new options to improve your team. We definitely need to sign a winger.”
Although he did not specifically mention Barcola in his press conference, it is no secret that the Reds have been keeping an eye on the French star for a long time.
However, despite appearing to be the club’s top target across a wide range of areas, other options are still being explored and could be pursued in the coming weeks.
Liverpool’s dream Barcola replacement
Liverpool have previously demonstrated their ability to spend big in the transfer market, spending more than £450m on new players in less than 12 months.
However, key areas of the team remain in dire need of improvement, as evidenced by recent reinforcement efforts to strengthen attacking areas of the pitch.
Countless players have been linked with a move to Anfield since Iraola took over, but none have been mentioned more frequently than RB Leipzig star Yann Diomande.
TEAMtalk reports that the Reds have once again contacted the player’s representatives regarding a potential move to Merseyside and have held fresh discussions to facilitate progress.
The report also states that the Ivorian wants to move to PSG this summer, but that did not deter Iraola in his attempts to secure a move for the 19-year-old winger.
The Bundesliga side are demanding a small fortune to offload their attacking star this summer with a price tag of £101m.
Despite his huge price tag, Diomande could be a cheaper addition than Barcola, but a higher quality addition for Liverpool as they look to succeed.
Comparing the two’s respective stats in recent campaigns, the Leipzig star outperformed the Frenchman in a number of important areas as an attacker.
Diomande finished the 2025/26 season with a total of 20 goals and assists, which was far behind Barcola, as he only contributed 12 goals in Ligue 1.
The Ivorian was also able to achieve an impressive rate of 4.3 dribbles per 90 in the Bundesliga, going on to record an effort many times that of the PSG star.
Such figures also place the teenage sensation at the top of all forwards in Europe’s top five leagues, confirming Bence Boksak’s comments that he is a “generational talent”.
Diomande’s 0.6 big chances created highlights his ability to create countless important chances for players around him, something Barcola never possesses.
In addition to his impressive goalscoring numbers, the Leipzig star also has a higher conversion rate, making him undoubtedly a clinical option for Iraola’s side.
The player’s desire to join PSG this summer has undoubtedly been a stumbling block in negotiations, but you can’t fault the management for their efforts in securing such a great talent.
There’s no denying that Barcola would be a great addition for the Reds, but Diomande is a step up and will give the team a huge chance of success in 2026/27.
