Key Winger Poised for Transfer

A notable winger is anticipated to depart, with Liverpool potentially being his final destination.

Richard Hughes must undoubtedly enhance the team’s attacking options in the upcoming transfer windows.

Aside from Jeremie Frimpong, the club’s sporting director has not added any wide players, despite having contemplated this need since he took office.

During his initial transfer window in 2024, Hughes sought to secure Anthony Gordon and also considered Yankuba Minteh.

However, those efforts did not materialize. In January 2025, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia emerged as a target, yet the deal fell through as Paris Saint-Germain signed him instead.

A year later, a similar scenario is expected for Antoine Semenyo, who is likely to sign with Manchester City over Liverpool.

Yet, 2026 may finally see Hughes land the winger he has been seeking.

In the summer of 2025, Hughes and Arne Slot considered bringing in a left-winger following the departure of Luis Diaz. At that time, Rio Ngumoha shone during pre-season, leading the club to think about creating a pathway for him.

Among the candidates at that time was Bradley Barcola, a player Slot is particularly fond of.

Fast forward six months, and it’s evident that the head coach lacks confidence in Ngumoha to match the minutes Diaz played last season, prompting Liverpool to strengthen the position, potentially bringing Barcola back into consideration.

Liverpool has been monitoring the Frenchman closely since he rose to prominence at Lyon, having considered signing him even before his move to Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG remains keen to retain Barcola, but contract negotiations have stalled for over a year.

According to L’Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi, there is now a legitimate chance that Barcola could leave PSG at the end of the season. “I believe Barcola will be a significant topic next summer regarding a departure from Paris Saint-Germain,” Tanzi noted on Ici.

Barcola is eager for regular playing time, and with Kvaratskhelia’s arrival limiting his minutes, he is understandably seeking assurances about his future.

At Liverpool, he would have a clearer path to the starting lineup, which could be appealing to the 23-year-old, whose current contract with PSG runs until 2028.

This aligns perfectly with Liverpool’s needs; Barcola is precisely the type of winger Hughes aims to integrate into the team’s attacking setup, and it now appears there is a genuine opportunity to secure him in the summer window.

It’s possible that this consideration influenced Liverpool’s decision to hold off on aggressively pursuing Semenyo, knowing a better candidate may soon be available.