Bradley Barcola and five players who could join Liverpool before Deadline Day

News

Matthew Judge | Editor

Liverpool are dealing with a transfer headache after their pre-season tour of the United States exposed glaring holes in their squad.

The Reds won two of their three warm-up fixtures in North America but new boss Andoni Iraola is clearly short of options in a number of areas.

Liverpool are still yet to source a replacement for the legendary Mohamed Salah, while there are also concerns at right-back and at centre-back.

The Merseysiders are active in the transfer market, however, with various sources linking them with a host of wingers.

Here, FootballTransfers takes a look at five players who could join Liverpool before Deadline Day, which takes place in England on 1 September.

A Defender

It comes as a major surprise that Liverpool do not appear to be trying to sign a defender at the moment. Well, according to reliable sources, that is.

Iraola’s side start their Premier League campaign in less than three weeks’ time, but it is not obvious who their first-choice right-back is.

Jeremy Frimpong is not a natural right-back in a back four, while Conor Bradley remains sidelined with a serious knee injury.

Liverpool are also spread thin at centre-back, with 18-year-olds Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye featuring heavily in pre-season.

The already injury-prone Joe Gomez sustained a muscular problem in the States, while Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are also in the treatment room.

And so that means Liverpool are still heavily reliant on captain Virgil van Dijk - the Netherlands centre-back who turned 35 last month.

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has been very loosely linked as a Premier League-proven solution to Liverpool’s issues.

But the England international does not match Liverpool’s signing profile, owing to the fact that he turns 29 in October.

One thing is clear, however: the Liverpool sporting operation, led by Richard Hughes, must address the defence before Deadline Day arrives.

Adam Wharton

Liverpool have less to worry about in midfield, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister at their disposal.

The club were also boosted by the performances of Trey Nyoni in the States, with the 19-year-old poised to continue his development in 2026-27.

“I knew always that he's a good player,” Szoboszlai said when asked about Nyoni’s form in pre-season. “In training, he showed his quality many times.

“Also when he had the chance to play in some cup games or even in the Premier League. He's a very good player.”

However, Hungary ace Szoboszlai also said, in the same interview with BBC Sport, that he felt Liverpool were “short” of numbers.

That interview came after BBC Sport reported on Monday that Liverpool made an enquiry for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton earlier this summer.

The club have needed a natural No. 6 since Fabinho’s departure in 2023, missing out on Aurelien Tchouameni and Martin Zubimendi in the past.

And Wharton has shone in that position for Palace - the 22-year-old metronome using his lovely left foot to break lines at will.

Yet there are concerns over whether Wharton, a beautiful player on the eye, would suit Iraola’s high-pressing, intense brand of football.

Ibrahim Mbaye

Liverpool have been linked with several wingers since Iraola called for reinforcements in that area of the pitch.

The latest is Ibrahim Mbaye - the Paris Saint-Germain attacker who, according to RMC Sport, is someone Liverpool admire.

Mbaye operates on the right-hand side of PSG’s attack, meaning he could be considered a natural replacement for Salah.

The 18-year-old emerged through PSG’s youth system in 2024 and has scored four goals in 41 appearances for Luis Enrique’s side.

He has also scored four times in 15 appearances for Senegal, including a stunner in 3-1 group-stage loss to France at this summer’s World Cup.

The fact that Liverpool are continuing to look for a right winger is a positive sign, having missed out on RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande earlier in the window.

And with RMC Sport stating Mbaye could be available for around €40million (£35m), Liverpool may feel it is too good of an opportunity to pass up.

However, like the 19-year-old Diomande, there will be some who feel Liverpool should be targeting a more established star to replace Salah.

Yet Liverpool are, among credible sources, only being linked with one marquee winger. And he plays on the left-hand side rather than right.

Bradley Barcola

Various sources understand Liverpool have made Bradley Barcola their main attacking target between now and the end of the transfer window.

The Athletic says PSG value the France forward at a staggering €170m (£145m), but BBC Sport claims Liverpool will try to get that figure down.

Barcola would no doubt be an eye-catching arrival at Anfield, owing to his explosive pace which should suit English football’s transitional nature.

However, Liverpool currently have three out-and-out left wingers on their books: Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha and Victor Munoz.

And so there is an argument that perhaps the club should be looking to spend the Barcola money on a right winger to succeed Salah.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher echoed that sentiment, saying: “He’s [Barcola] a left winger for me and, for me, Liverpool’s big thing that stands out like a sore thumb right now is replacing Mo Salah, a right winger.

“And I don’t think Liverpool have got anybody, really, in the squad who looks fully comfortable playing right wing. Whereas right now, I’d say [they have] at least four players in the squad, before Barcola joins, if he joins, who could play on the left-hand side, comfortably.

“Now I’m not saying any of those players are better than Barcola, but in terms of balance of a squad, it’s not the position (left wing) that Liverpool need right now - they need a right winger.”

Despite Carragher’s comments, it appears Liverpool - according to various sources - are preparing a first official bid for Barcola, who is keen to join.

Yankuba Minteh

The Athletic reported in June that Liverpool officials have ran the rule over Brighton and Hove Albion right winger Yankuba Minteh.

Minteh, 22, joined the Seagulls from Newcastle United in 2024 and recorded seven goal contributions (three goals, four assists) last season.

Should Liverpool struggle to reach an agreement with PSG for Barcola, it will be interesting to see if Minteh is a name that pops up again.

For Liverpool fans such as Carragher, Minteh - like Mbaye - would at least go some way to filling the massive void left by Salah’s departure.

Yet Brighton are known for being tough negotiators. Liverpool supporters do not need reminding about their attempts to sign Moises Caicedo in 2023.

Another winger who has been linked with Liverpool is Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who wants to leave Lille this summer.

Compared

Yankuba Minteh

F, M (R)

Brighton

Yankuba Minteh

F, M (R)

Brighton

VS

Matías Fernández-Pardo

F (C), M (L)

Lille

Matías Fernández-Pardo

F (C), M (L)

Lille

2025/2026

Season Statistics

2025/2026

36	Appearances	40
2449	Minutes Played	3035
3	Goals	8
4	Assists	6
47	Key Passes	47

He is another left winger, however, though the Belgium international could reappear on Liverpool’s radar if they are unable to land Barcola.

Written by

Matthew Judge | Editor

Matthew Judge is a freelance sports writer from Liverpool, United Kingdom. He has worked for/had words published by Everton Football Club, The Independent, Daily Mirror, Stats Perform, Goal, and Squawka, among others.

View full bio