Why Liverpool want to sign “the next Mbappe”

It is an open secret that Liverpool want to add more quality to their wide areas in the summer transfer window, after Mohamed Salah moved on from Anfield at the end of last season.

The Egypt international’s exit from the club has left Andoni Iraola without any wide players who can offer consistent quality in the final third ahead of next season.

Liverpool had RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande in their sights as a left-sided attacker signing, but he decided he preferred a move to Paris Saint-Germain, and it remains to be seen if that deal will go through.

Another left winger who will not be coming through the doors at Anfield as a new signing this summer is Aston Villa and England star Morgan Rogers.

How Liverpool missed out on signing Morgan Rogers

The Reds made contact with the Villans earlier this month to enquire about the English star’s situation and to be kept informed on any changes, with plenty of teams in the race for his signature at the time.

After he scored ten goals and provided six assists in the Premier League in the 2025/26 campaign, Rogers would have been an excellent addition to the squad to solve Iraola’s issues on the flank.

The 23-year-old star also went to the World Cup with England and started three matches for the Three Lions, providing one assist and taking the shot that led to Jude Bellingham’s winner in the quarter-final against Norway.

However, the Reds and Arsenal have both been blown out of the water by rivals Chelsea, who have agreed a stunning £117m deal with Villa to sign the attacking midfielder, making him the most expensive English player of all time.

Liverpool and the Gunners seemingly decided that they were not willing to pay that much for the England international, which has allowed the Blues to win the race for his signature, pending a medical and other formalities.

Missing out on deals for Rogers and Diomande does, though, mean that the pool of elite wide talents available for FSG to pursue is getting smaller, and that is why they have to move swiftly in the coming weeks.

Liverpool in pursuit of their own Morgan Rogers

Now, the club are already looking at a player who could arrive at Anfield this summer as their own version of the £117m-rated soon-to-be Chelsea star.

Reports coming out of Spain note that Liverpool are one of the teams in the race to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Reds have been offered the chance to sign the French wing wizard during talks, and that it would take a deal of more than £60m to secure his services.

It adds, though, that Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Barcelona have also been offered the same opportunity, which means that it will not be a straightforward deal to get done.

The Frenchman came on for Desire Doue at half-time in the game and scored, what turned out to be, a consolation goal for his country, whilst Rogers started and did not provide a goal or an assist in the ten-goal match.

Barcola, who has been touted at a price of £128m, is similar to Rogers in the sense that they are both left-sided forwards who can offer goals and assists on a regular basis, although the Englishman can play in a more central role too.

In the last two league seasons, the France international has scored more goals and created more xA for his teammates in nine fewer appearances than the £117m-rated star.

Barcola, described by journalist Robin Bairner as “the next Mbappe”, has racked up 54 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 63 Ligue 1 games for PSG, which is proof that he can be the consistent attacking force that Liverpool are looking for.

The 23-year-old winger also scored five goals and provided eight assists in the Champions League in those two campaigns, winning the competition both times, whilst Rogers has yet to prove himself at that level.

Liverpool, therefore, could land an even more impactful signing than the England international on the left flank by pushing to win the race for Barcola, who can be their own improved version of Rogers, in the coming weeks.