Sports
Liverpool in talks to sign “one of the best LWs in the world”
Against Arsenal, Liverpool resembled a squad somewhat closer to title challengers than has been the case for most of the campaign, showing grit and determination to halt the table-toppers’ winning run in the Premier League.
For his part, Arne Slot showed the tactical astuteness that saw him power his way toward last year’s title, negating the hosts’ attacking threat and reducing them to an xG total of 0.57 across the evening.
Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.
There’s still no question that defensive reinforcements are essential this year, perhaps this month, with FSG adding youthful prospects to the Anfield ranks while still keeping an eye on bigger fish.
But Liverpool also need a new wide forward. The decision not to replace Luis Diaz after he was sold to Bayern Munich in August has hampered the Reds, and now, sporting director Richard Hughes is ready to sign a new star.
Liverpool plan to sign left winger
Antoine Semenyo has been one of the most in-form and in-demand wingers in the Premier League this season, scoring ten goals and supplying three assists for Bournemouth.
He signed for Manchester City this week, despite Liverpool interest and calls from Hughes in November.
It’s a blow, with the two-sided winger showing many of the skills that Slot needs within his Red frontline. But perhaps there is a bigger prize on the horizon.
According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, and have even entered preliminary discussions with the Ligue 1 champions over securing his signature this month.
Barcola, 23, is engaged in protracted contract talks with his employers, and while PSG are confident they can tie him down to a lengthy deal,
Why Bradley Barcola could be the new Salah
It’s only been two-and-a-half years since Barcola joined PSG from divisional rivals Lyon as a raw and untested talent, but he’s only gone from strength to strength since the switch, having scored 31 goals and supplied 34 assists across 126 matches in all competitions.
Hailed as a key part of PSG’s “world-class” frontline by journalist Santi Iruleguy, Barcola notched 21 goals and assists apiece last season en route to a historic quintuple, dazzling with quick footwork and sharp playmaking skills to complement an insatiable hunger for goals.
He’s not just a finisher of moves, though. As per data-driven platform FBref, the Les Bleus talent ranks among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 16% for progressive carries, and the top 15% forn shot-creating actions per 90.
This range of qualities, underlying a remarkable ability to score and assist in the final third, could even see Barcola take the mantle as Liverpool’s new version of Mohamed Salah, with the 33-year-old’s decline heightening the need for a new winger.
With Semenyo off the cards, perhaps Barcola would be the perfect addition, capable of producing the goods on the biggest stages in a fashion not dissimilar to Salah, who has been Liverpool’s all-consuming talisman for so many years.
Salah, admittedly, hasn’t been great this year, though, which is all the more reason for FSG to push for Barcola; with FBref drawing the aforementioned Diaz as one of his most comparable players, thus underscoring further similarities to Salah in his athletic heyday.
|
Salah’s Premier League Career at Liverpool |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Apps |
Goals + Assists |
|
25/26 |
14 |
4 + 3 |
|
24/25 |
38 |
29 + 18 |
|
23/24 |
32 |
18 + 10 |
|
22/23 |
38 |
19 + 12 |
|
21/22 |
35 |
23 + 13 |
|
20/21 |
37 |
22 + 5 |
|
19/20 |
34 |
19 + 10 |
|
18/19 |
38 |
22 + 8 |
|
17/18 |
36 |
32 + 11 |
|
Data via Transfermarkt |
||
Barcola, on the other hand, is burgeoning, getting stronger with every season. He’s still got gains to make, but that hasn’t stopped analyst Ben Mattinson from declaring him as “one of the best left wingers in Europe.”
Whether Salah has played his final game for Liverpool, or will feature for the rest of the campaign, or indeed see out the remainder of his £400k-per-week contract, all remains to be seen.
But the plain truth is that Salah is approaching the twilight of his glittering career, and by signing Barcola, Slot would land a physical and robust new talisman with the signs of a clinical edge to rival the Egyptian King.
Semenyo upgrade: Liverpool make calls for “one of best LWs in the world”
Liverpool need to sign a new left-sided forward in 2026.
