Liverpool could sign the future “best player in the world”

It’s been a muted summer at Anfield thus far, but Liverpool are aware more than most that ‘winning the window’ doesn’t always correlate with on-field success.

As has been well documented, last year’s significant outlay backfired for Arne Slot, the then-champions taking a backward step despite splashing out north of £400m.

12 months earlier, the only senior arrival had been Federico Chiesa, yet a Premier League title swiftly followed. Go figure.

That’s all a roundabout way of saying that Andoni Iraola‘s debut season is unlikely to be defined by whether or not the likes of Bradley Barcola sign before the deadline. That said, it would be nice, wouldn’t it?

Which former Liverpool signings could Barcola be compared to?

It’s been an era defined by managers, from Jose Mourinho, to Pep Guardiola and to the great Jurgen Klopp. It would be good for the players to take centre stage again, wouldn’t it?

Vinicius Junior has snubbed Arsenal’s interest, but Barcola could well be the marquee addition that the Premier League needs. The world’s ‘greatest league’ is still lacking that sense of stardust.

In the Klopp era, the likes of Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah were moulded into genuine superstars – they didn’t arrive at Anfield in that condition.

Even Luis Suarez, his 2010 World Cup exploits aside, was a relative unknown quantity upon his move to Merseyside, few having foreseen the Uruguayan’s rapid ascent to talismanic status.

Perhaps the best comparison to Barcola, therefore, may well be Fernando Torres, the Spaniard – who was also 23 upon arrival – having been hot priority in his homeland following his stellar rise at Atletico Madrid.

Barcola, while part of a squad that has won back-to-back Champions League titles, is at a similar stage of his career, ready to test himself in English football and really cement his global reputation.

The only concern will be that this is a saga that has dragged on and on, with the Reds needing to be wary of being left empty-handed come September. Indeed, lining up an in-form alternative would be a wise move.

Liverpool could still sign an exciting Barcola alternative

There has been talk that Iraola and co could also be ready to raid PSG for the signing of PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye, but there are mixed messages being received about that pursuit.

Reuters/Caean Couto

Mbaye, more so than Barcola, would be a solution on Liverpool’s troublesome right flank, although it’s fair to say he isn’t the only player under consideration.

As per reports relayed in Brazil, Liverpool are said to be ready to submit a bid for Real Madrid starlet, Endrick, with a fee of around €65m (£56m) having been suggested.

The feeling has been that the 20-year-old will stay put at the Bernabeu, although the Merseysiders appear ready to test Madrid’s resolve, with Endrick yet to nail down a regular role in the Spanish capital.

It hasn’t worked out as yet for the former Palmeiras man, yet his brief spell in France last season showcased why former Madrid and Brazil coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo once said that he “has all the qualities to be the best player in the world.”

REUTERS/Sam Navarro

Having joined Lyon on loan in January, the versatile left-footer was a roaring success in Ligue 1, proving such a handful, be it through the middle or off the right flank.

It was primarily in that latter role where he flourished, scoring and assisting 12 goals in France’s top-flight from only 14 starts. For comparison, that record was actually level with what Barcola achieved, albeit the Frenchman having made 21 starts for Luis Enrique’s side.

Endrick’s tally of nine ‘big chances’ created was just shy of Barcola’s tally of 13, although that again came in a shorter time frame, with the South American bettering his PSG counterpart in terms of key passes made per game (1.6 vs 1.3).

Perhaps most impressively, the on-loan Lyon speedster was comfortably ahead of Barcola in terms of successful dribbles, averaging a stellar 2.3 per game, in comparison to just 1.2 for the 23-year-old.

For context, the pair actually finished level in terms of total successful dribbles completed (36), yet Endrick reached that total in just half a season in Ligue 1.

Looking back to Barcola’s own time at Lyon, his final year at the club in 2022/23 did see him rack up 13 goals and assists, although he averaged just one key pass and 1.5 successful dribbles per game, well below Endrick’s own average at a similar age.

That perhaps speaks to the greater potential that Endrick possesses, with it hard to argue against his superior level in France last season, ahead of Barcola.

Whether Liverpool manage to secure either player remains to be seen, what is clear is that both men would represent a real coup for this new Iraola regime.