Former Liverpool defender Jason McAteer has urged the club to prioritise a double signing for the right flank this summer, while dismissing a £100 million move for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as too costly.
Right-Back Crisis After Alexander-Arnold Exit
Liverpool have struggled to fill the void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who departed two seasons ago. Conor Bradley, expected to step up, has been sidelined since January with a serious knee injury. Jeremie Frimpong, signed as a wing-back, has been hampered by muscle issues and poor form, forcing midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Wataru Endo, and defender Joe Gomez to fill in at right-back.
McAteer told Betarades.gr: "I think the areas of concern are down Liverpool's right-hand side, having lost Trent two seasons ago. It vacated a big, big space which we obviously thought Conor Bradley would slot into. You felt Conor was ready to go into that position but unfortunately through injury and performances he's not been able to do that."
New Head Coach Confirms Winger Search
New Reds head coach Andoni Iraola has admitted the squad lacks depth on the right wing and confirmed interest in recruiting a new winger. This follows the departure of Mohamed Salah, which has further destabilised the right side. McAteer noted that the right-back issues also affected Salah's performances before he left.
Diomande Deal Dismissed as Too Expensive
Liverpool were willing to pay £86 million for Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande, but RB Leipzig demanded in excess of £100 million. That fee has deterred suitors, including Paris Saint-Germain, whom Diomande reportedly prefers to join. McAteer believes the price tag is too high for a player who only showed flashes at the World Cup.
"Diomande did okay during the World Cup. It was difficult for Ivory Coast. He showed flashes of what he can do, but the thing about the younger players in this tournament is the likes of (Ayyoub) Bouaddi and (Lamine) Yamal seemed to take the headlines… But the fact that you're looking at maybe paying £100m for him means that you're kind of looking for him to set the world alight at that kind of price on the biggest stage," McAteer said.
Barcola Recommended as Better Option
McAteer instead recommends Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, who impressed at the World Cup. "Between Diomande and Barcola I would probably go for Barcola right now. I don't think Liverpool need to buy potential anymore. I think we found out last season that potential doesn't necessarily work all the time. You kind of need to buy a bit more of a finished article and someone you can trust a little bit more. I just think Barcola's performances in this World Cup have just shown more maturity than Diomande," he added.
