There’s a lot of excitement at Liverpool right now as FSG continue their search for an ambitious move to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, but wait a minute.
As it stands, PSG do not want to sell the French international, who has refused to extend his contract in order to take up a more important role elsewhere. All indications suggest that Barcora is prioritizing a move to Anfield over other suitors and that Liverpool are in a strong position to win the race.
But hopes of adding Barcola, described by analyst Ben Mattinson as “one of the best left-wingers in the world”, to Andoni Iraola’s squad will be dashed if the French superpowers are unable to lower the £145m price tag.
This is a much-needed offensive addition, but will everyone in Iraola’s squad be happy? For example, could he put the already unstable Florian Wirtz at risk?
How Iraola can revive Wirtz at Liverpool
When Wirtz left Bayer Leverkusen to sign for Liverpool in June 2025, he was touted as one of the world’s most exciting players with incredible playmaking talent. He fell a little short of expectations under Arne Slott.
Although his deft footwork and quick thinking earned him brownie points at the interval, the German attacking midfielder was unable to control the game and make an impact as Liverpool battled an incredible slump.
To be fair, Liverpool have broader issues that have made it difficult for the newcomer to settle in and produce the goods, but he still leaves too much to be desired.
Will Iraora and a change in system help push him to the front? The 23-year-old showed promise at the World Cup with a subpar Germany team, and the underlying numbers suggest he could have a much stronger season than previous ones.
Despite struggling last season, Wertz, who still ranks in the top 10 per cent of his team-mates in the Premier League for touches, chances created and passes completed, is also an agile dribbler and a solid fighter as the season progresses.
However, there is no guarantee that Wirtz will be hitting all cylinders for Liverpool next season, and it will be important that FSG do not sell their new head coach short if Iraola is unable to coax any form out of the big-money German.
Liverpool looking to sign ‘world-class’ midfielder
Harvey Elliott has returned to Merseyside after a failed loan spell at Aston Villa, but entrusting him with the main role next season without adding new support to the squad could be a grave mistake for Iraola and co.
With that in mind, TEAMtalk has revealed that Liverpool have shortlisted several attacking midfielders in case a deal for Barcola falls through, and Real Madrid talent Arda Güler is among them. The £100m-valued midfielder has been wanted by FSG for some time and recent developments in Spain could pave the way for Liverpool to explore.
The 21-year-old Goulart is one of the most talented young playmakers in the world, but he has a different profile to the likes of Barcola and could actually threaten Wertz’s place in Iraola’s starting line-up. Liverpool are reportedly considering signing the Turkish superstar.
With Los Blancos close to signing Yann Diomande from RB Leipzig, Liverpool could pull off a dazzle here and sign a “world-class” talent, described by Mesut Ozil, who can play on the right or deep in the centre.
Güler vs Wirtz (League format 25/26) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) | collar | Worts |
games played | 33 | 33 |
goals and assists | 4+9 | 5+3 |
Pass rate% | 90.7 | 84.5 |
An opportunity has arisen | 70 | 60 |
Number of shots (on target) | 49(19) | 51(18) |
Dribbling completed | 27 | 39 |
completed cross | 39 | 60 |
won a duel | 109 | 99 |
Hailed by European football expert Neil Gardner as “the best CM/AM candidate in the world at the moment”, it is clear that Güler and Wirtz are more similar than Barkola, who could actually partner well with the Turkish talent. His creativity and experience at the highest level at Real Madrid make him a formidable prospect.
Guler’s spectacular striking has changed the course of the game so far, and his deft dribbling provides a Wirtz-like potential for Liverpool to push forward. Can this duo coexist in the Iraora system? Probably not. The two are not competing for the starting spot. However, if Wirtz fails to make the necessary improvements, this could be a game-changing signing for Liverpool.
Considering he has won more duels and stuck more than the German, it could be argued that Guler has the potential to withstand the rigors of Premier League football better than his positional rival.
This is a deal Liverpool should consider jumping on if the right opportunity arises. Iraora believes Wirtz will be a good player, but this is a unique opportunity to sign an even more exciting up-and-comer.
