Liverpool have been relatively quiet in the transfer market compared to 12 months ago, when the club spent £446m on Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez. That outlay did not result in the retention of the title; Arne Slot's side ended the 2024-25 season trophyless and the Dutchman was out of a job. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate followed him out of the door after their contracts expired.
Andoni Iraola, the former Bournemouth boss, is now leading a new era and has signed Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz so far. PSG's Bradley Barcola is a major target. The winger is not an out-and-out replacement for Salah, but he can slot into multiple areas if Liverpool completes the signing.
The Reds face Newcastle in three weeks' time, and Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are all unavailable for the curtain raiser. If Barcola joins before then, and Munoz is also available, Iraola could set his team up in a number of different ways.
Iraola's trusted 4-2-3-1
Iraola is expected to implement the system he used at Bournemouth. Alisson Becker is anticipated to stay as No.1 this season. The back four would be a flat line with Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong as the full-backs, alongside Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet in the centre.
In midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch would anchor the side as a double pivot. Behind Alexander Isak, the attacking trio would feature Rio Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz and Barcola. Barcola would take his preferred left-sided position, where he has netted 32 goals and provided 32 assists for PSG and Lyon. Ngumoha would play on the right, a switch Iraola deployed in the recent pre-season victory over Wrexham, while Wirtz would orchestrate play in his natural No.10 role.
A different look in a 4-3-3
With the same goalkeeper and defensive quartet, the midfield would change. Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Wirtz would form a more conventional engine room, with Wirtz granted a licence to drift and Gravenberch operating in a deeper position.
Barcola could operate on the right, a flank he is not completely accustomed to but has experience in. The PSG man has just seven goals from the right, though he has contributed 15 assists. New signing Munoz would slot into his preferred left-wing spot, with both wide men delivering balls to Isak as the lone striker. This shape could even shift into a compact 4-5-1 without possession, should the Reds need to protect a lead.
The 4-4-1-1 wildcard
This setup places Wirtz on the left and Ngumoha on the right of a four-man midfield, with Szoboszlai and Gravenberch forming a two-man defensive shield. It would be Iraola's wildcard option, potentially moving Barcola into the hole behind Isak.
Barcola has featured as a centre-forward on more than 20 occasions, contributing a respectable nine goals. It is not an extensive sample, but the winger is known for cutting inside and taking on opponents in central areas. With Wirtz and Ngumoha controlling the supply lines down either flank, Barcola could be handed the opportunity to forge a lethal partnership with Isak from a slightly deeper attacking midfield role.
