{"id":49768,"date":"2026-07-06T19:36:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T23:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/06\/why-liverpool-made-116m-superstar-top-target-to-replace-salah\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T19:36:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T23:36:08","slug":"why-liverpool-made-116m-superstar-top-target-to-replace-salah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/06\/why-liverpool-made-116m-superstar-top-target-to-replace-salah\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Liverpool made \u00a3116m &#8216;superstar&#8217; top target to replace Salah"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/06\/why-liverpool-made-116m-superstar-top-target-to-replace-salah\/#Liverpool_set_World_Cup_superstar_as_top_target\" >Liverpool set World Cup superstar as top target<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/06\/why-liverpool-made-116m-superstar-top-target-to-replace-salah\/#Why_Barcola_could_be_Liverpools_new_villain\" >Why Barcola could be Liverpool&#8217;s new villain<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/06\/why-liverpool-made-116m-superstar-top-target-to-replace-salah\/#Iraolas_answer_to_Anderson_Liverpool_are_working_towards_signing_a_100m_star\" >Iraola&#8217;s answer to Anderson: Liverpool are working towards signing a \u00a3100m star<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Liverpool are on a roll, but FSG director of football Michael Edwards and Anfield sporting director Richard Hughes have quite a bit of work to do this summer.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>For the second consecutive summer transfer window, the Reds have made significant changes. This time, the pressure is even higher, with Arne Slott&#8217;s tenure collapsing amid a record spending surge. Now Liverpool need to restore themselves to their perch.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s easier said than done, especially given the departures of Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate on free transfers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-container\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" style=\"\" align=\"\" summary=\"\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"3\" scope=\"col\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Salah&#8217;s top scorer in the PL since signing with Liverpool<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>app<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>the goal<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>mohamed salah<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>315<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>191<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>harry kane<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>204<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>135<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>erling haaland<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>132<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>112<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>son heung min<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>271<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>109<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Jameel Vardy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>237<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>103<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<p>How do we replace something that is irreplaceable? Liverpool&#8217;s decision-makers will have their jobs cut this summer. Despite already signing Victor Munoz for \u00a334.5m, there is still plenty of work to do.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"liverpool-make-world-cup-superstar-their-top-target\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Liverpool_set_World_Cup_superstar_as_top_target\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Liverpool set World Cup superstar as top target<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League last season. They were extremely lucky to earn 60 points, enough for Europe&#8217;s top competition and qualify for the Champions League.<\/p>\n<p>Salah refused, but he wasn&#8217;t the crux of the matter. At 34 years old, it&#8217;s no surprise, but Liverpool and FSG entered the summer market thinking they effectively needed a replacement for him, but so far they haven&#8217;t been able to do so, with Yann Diomand hoping to move to Paris Saint-Germain.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s not the end of the world. The Reds now have to change direction. With a number of exciting targets on the shortlist, the one and only Fabrizio Romano stepped in to confirm that Liverpool were pursuing one man above all others.<\/p>\n<p>Romano said Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is at the top of Liverpool&#8217;s summer shopping list after falling back in the race to sign Diomand, but they face stiff competition from Arsenal who still need a left-sided attacker this summer.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;According to my information, he is an important player for PSG, but he is not untouchable.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This means that PSG would be happy to continue with him. But even if a big offer reaches the player and PSG, we still have to look at Barcola. There is also Liverpool, there is also Arsenal.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Barcola is Liverpool&#8217;s top target for a winger.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Crucially, Arsenal&#8217;s priority is to sign Aston Villa&#8217;s Morgan Rodgers, and if Liverpool act quickly they could pull off a talismanic deal in the vein of Salah. Barcola is valued at more than \u00a3116m despite entering the penultimate year of his contract with PSG.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-barcola-can-be-liverpool-39-s-new-salah\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Barcola_could_be_Liverpools_new_villain\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Why Barcola could be Liverpool&#8217;s new villain<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Barcola is truly a rising star. He has already been described by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson as &#8220;one of the best left wingers in the world&#8221; due to his performances at PSG over the past few years.<\/p>\n<p>Barcola is the real deal and if he continues to develop over the next few years, he could establish himself as Salah&#8217;s successor at Liverpool.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s safe to say he won&#8217;t bring in too many goals, but Barcola has a unique approach to wing play and his language style is quite unique.<\/p>\n<p>    He has natural strengths in the final third and is versatile across the front, so it&#8217;s perhaps understandable that PSG would be demanding a nine-figure figure for his potential sale. In their minds, he is certainly &#8220;one of the best wingers&#8221; in the world.<\/p>\n<p>After all, Liverpool have been urged to &#8220;sign a superstar&#8221; like Barcola this summer by Anfield Index&#8217;s Dave Hendrick, who believes his penchant for scoring from wide positions makes him &#8220;the closest thing&#8221; to Salah.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-container\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" style=\"\" align=\"\" summary=\"\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\" scope=\"col\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Bradley Barcola at the World Cup<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Statistics (* per 90)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>#<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Match (start)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>5(3)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Goal + Assist<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>2+1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Number of shots (on target)*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>1.2 (0.6)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Exact path*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>15.6 (85%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>An opportunity has arisen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Key pass*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>1.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>It was successful. dribble*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>2.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Ball recovery rate*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>2.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Def. contribution<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>1.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Win a duel*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>4.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<p>What&#8217;s most interesting is that Barcola hasn&#8217;t fully grown into the skin of a world-class attacker. There&#8217;s a rawness to his game that Iraola could mold into something special.<\/p>\n<p>But when a player stars for two years in the best team of his generation, scoring 34 goals and providing a further 28 assists in all competitions, it&#8217;s clear he&#8217;s something special and could develop into something of a talisman for a club like Liverpool.<\/p>\n<p>Can he emulate Salah? Barcola is agile and direct, but perhaps doesn&#8217;t have the same ferocious thirst for goals as he does (so who does?). Instead, he could pack a different kind of punch while becoming the focal point of Liverpool&#8217;s attack as they hope to get back to the top.<\/p>\n<p>    Salah is no longer under contract at Anfield, a strange fact that is difficult to accept, but if Barcola is brought into Iraola&#8217;s team at the start of a new era, the Reds could have a wide attacker who can become a superstar in his own right.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                              \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"answer-to-elliot-anderson-liverpool-working-on-transfer-for-wharton\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<p>                        <\/p>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Iraolas_answer_to_Anderson_Liverpool_are_working_towards_signing_a_100m_star\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tIraola&#8217;s answer to Anderson: Liverpool are working towards signing a \u00a3100m star<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Liverpool need to add one or two elite midfielders to Iraola&#8217;s squad this summer. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Liverpool are on a roll, but FSG director of football Michael Edwards and Anfield sporting director Richard Hughes have quite a bit of work to do this summer. For the second consecutive summer transfer window, the Reds have made significant changes. This time, the pressure is even higher, with Arne Slott&#8217;s tenure collapsing amid a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[9266,40,132,815,1719,611,1250,84],"class_list":["post-49768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-116m","tag-football","tag-liverpool","tag-replace","tag-salah","tag-superstar","tag-target","tag-top"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49768","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49768"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49768\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}