Liverpool haven’t yet completed the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain, though widespread reports over the last 24 hours have insisted his transfer is all but done with personal terms agreed and the two clubs putting the finishing touches on a package that could rise to £120M with add-ons.
Given the issues Liverpool came into the summer with on the squad front, though, and just how little they’ve managed to achieve with less than a week left in the transfer window, the question is whether
Barcola might be the end of it. If he is, the Reds will be left recklessly short at multiple positions. Yet few on the outside would be confident of the club getting the necessary deals done.
However, setting aside larger doubts over the club’s ability to execute successfully in the transfer market under sporting director Richard Hughes, fresh reports in the UK this evening suggest that more is at the very least the goal for the club in what’s left of the summer window.
According to The Guardian’s Andy Hunter, the club will still be pushing to sign a Mohamed Salah replacement right winger—though with left winger Barcola arriving as the star attacking signing, calling whatever player might end up being signed for the right the Salah replacement seems likely to apply more to position than to star power.
A second wing siging alongside Barcola was always expected, though. Less expected perhaps is the suggestion that new head coach Andoni Iraola wants to see his squad strengthened at right back given concerns over Conor Bradley’s long-term fitness as well as at striker given Hugo Ekitike is expected out until the new year.
“Ideally is the magic word,” Iraola noted earlier in the day at his press conference ahead of Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest when pressed on the transfer issue. “We don’t know what we can do, but now we have four or five days and I am sure if we can improve other areas we will.”
In addition to depth concerns at right back and striker as well as the obvious need to sign another winger along with Barcola there are some question marks in midfield, particularly following the sale of Curtis Jones, but at the moment there has been no suggestion that the Reds are actively looking to make signings there.
