Jamie Carragher has warned Bradley Barcola should not be viewed as a successor for Mohamed Salah as Liverpool prepare to launch their first offer for the £145million-valued PSG star.
Barcola is understood to be keen to join Liverpool after the club held talks with his representatives in the last week.
The 23-year-old France international has indicated he does not wish to sign a new contract with the European champions and is open to joining Liverpool, who have a long-held interest.
PSG are considering his sale but he still has two years left on his contract and they believe, based on his age, potential and current market prices, that £145m is a fair price.
Former Liverpool star Carragher responded to a post from Sky Sports asking whether Barcola is the right player to replace legendary Reds winger Salah, who left the club on a free transfer this summer.
‘No he plays on the opposite flank!’ Carragher wrote.
Liverpool are set to make their first offer to PSG for £145m-rated Bradley Barcola
Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher has warned Barcola is not a suitable replacement for Mohamed Salah
Carragher stressed that Barcola plays on the left, while Liverpool ‘desperately’ need a right winger after Salah’s departure this summer
‘LFC currently have three players who could play from the left in Rio/Gakpo/Wirtz & no one who plays from the right.’
Carragher’s comments had been backed up by a graphic accompanying the question, which showed that Barcola has had vastly more time playing on the left wing than the right for PSG in the Champions League.
He expanded on his comments further after a Liverpool fan suggested Rio Ngumoha should be shifted from his favoured role on the left to play on the right.
Carragher stressed that Liverpool need to ‘desperately’ sign a right winger ahead of the season, with Salah’s departure having created a need for a high class option in the position.
‘Well Rio has always played from the left so that’s obviously his best position, Gakpo should move really but who knows, I’m interested to see where Wirtz plays, if he’s 10 Dom plays CM,’ Carragher added.
‘I’m not sure about that.
‘Need a right winger desperately!’
Daily Mail Sport reported that Liverpool will seek a compromise on the £145m figure demanded by PSG, with Barcola’s price reputed to have been closer to £75million last summer when they first sounded out his representatives.
Barcola is not a regular starter for Luis Enrique’s side and they have been pursuing RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, which would have pushed him further down the pecking order, only for Real Madrid to declare their intent to sign the Ivory Coast international on Friday – which is now close to completion.
Liverpool also had an £85million proposal rejected for Diomande, but Barcola has always been in their thinking.
Liverpool are seeking to strengthen new boss Andoni Iraola’s attacking options
He has the skillset to suit Andoni Iraola’s style and can provide a serious goal threat following the void left by Mohamed Salah’s departure.
Across the past two seasons at PSG, Barcola scored 34 goals and assisted a further 28.
He played in all eight of France’s World Cup matches this year, scoring three goals, including one against England in the third-place play-off.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich also retain interest in Barcola while Chelsea made enquiries earlier in the summer.
