Liverpool have finally signed Bradley Barcola from PSG and excitement is high at Anfield.
But why is French international Barcola the right man for Liverpool to spend over $162 million on?
Well, preseason and their draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest so far this season showed us that Liverpool are struggling with creativity in their new style of play.
They won’t be struggling with that now that Barcola has arrived.
Barcola fits perfectly into Iraola’s system
New Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola wants wingers and forwards to be direct and always running towards goal and Barcola slots in perfectly with that style.
The way he cuts in from the left is eerily similar to the way Mohamed Salah used to do that from the right.
And Barcola’s dribbling ability and direct running is similar to Antoine Semenyo, who flourished at Bournemouth under Iraola.
This is a signing that makes so much sense.
And when you start to see the other dominoes falling into place, this move makes sense for Liverpool and Barcola too.
Barcola is ready to be the main man
If he stayed at PSG he wouldn’t be a true starter for quite a few years as Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are clearly ahead of him in the pecking order out wide and Ousmane Dembele is also in his way in attack.
Barcola is 23 and has been key in PSG’s back-to-back Champions League titles.
But he’s ready to be the main man somewhere.
That somewhere is Liverpool.
At Liverpool Barcola will have the left wing spot to himself for many years to come.
He will also have Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike to link up with centrally, and Florian Wirtz can play in the No. 10 role and feed off and interchange with him out wide too.
Gamble to spend this money on a forward instead of defensive players?
Liverpool are also reportedly about to move on Cody Gakpo from their left for good money to help fund this Barcola move, and it’s obvious teenager Rio Ngumoha is still a work in progress out wide and young Spanish winger Victor Munoz is talented but raw.
Many will argue that Liverpool need to spend this Barcola money on a new holding midfielder and full backs to improve the overall balance of the team. That is probably true.
But Barcola’s arrival could also help them pin teams higher up the pitch and stop the need for as much defensive work during games.
That is something they’re gambling on.
But Barcola’s numbers in terms of goals and assists and his general clinical edge all points towards this being a very successful move both for him and Liverpool.
