There’s plenty of excitement in the air at Liverpool right now as FSG continue to push and probe in an ambitious bid to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, but let’s hold onto our horses for a second.
As things stand, PSG don’t want to sell the France international, who has rejected a contract extension in favour of a role of greater importance elsewhere. All the pointers suggest Liverpool are in a strong position to win the race, with Barcola prioritising a move to Anfield over other suitors.
But if the French superpower fail to lower their £145m price tag, hopes of adding “one of the best left wingers in the world“, as Barcola has been named by analyst Ben Mattinson, to Andoni Iraola‘s squad will be dashed.
It would mark a much-needed attacking addition, but could everyone be happy within Iraola’s squad? For example, could it jeapordise the already shaky Florian Wirtz?
How Iraola can revive Wirtz at Liverpool
When Wirtz left Bayer Leverkusen and signed for Liverpool in Junee 2025, he was billed as a prodigious playmaking talent, one of the most exciting players in the world. He fell some distance away from expectations under Arne Slot.
His deft footwork and quick thinking have earned him brownie points at intervals, but the German attacking midfielder has failed to take control of games and influence Liverpool as they fought against a staggering slump.
In fairness, Liverpool’s wider problems made it difficult for newcomers to bed themselves in and produce the goods, but he still left too much to be desired.
Could Iraola and a change of system help bring him to the fore? The 23-year-old showed promise at the World Cup in a sub-standard Germany side, and the underlying numbers suggest he could be in for a far stronger season than before.
Even as he struggled last season, Wirtz still ranked inside the top 10% of teammates for touches, chances created and passes completed in the Premier League, also a fleet-footed dribbler and increasingly solid combatant as the campaign deepened.
However, there are no guarantees that Wirtz will fire on all cylinders for Liverpool next season, and if Iraola fails to get a tune out of the big-money German, it’s crucial that FSG don’t sell the new head coach short.
Liverpool exploring move for “world-class” midfielder
Harvey Elliott is back on Merseyside following his unsuccessful loan spell with Aston Villa, but to entrust him with a leading role next season, without adding fresh support to the squad, could be a grave mistake for Iraola and co.
It’s with that in mind that TEAMtalk have revealed Liverpool have shortlisted a number of attacking midfielders in the event of their deal for Barcola falling through, and Real Madrid talent Arda Guler is among them. The £100m-rated midfielder has been earmarked by FSG for a while, and recent developments in Spain could clear a pathway for Liverpool to explore.
Guler, 21, is one of the most talented young playmakers in the world, but he’s a different profile to someone like Barcola, and could instead threaten Wirtz’s position in Iraola’s starting line-up. It’s understood that Liverpool have explored a move to sign the Turkish superstar,
With Los Blancos closing in on a deal to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, Liverpool could pull off a blinder here, signing a “world-class” talent, as he has been described by Mesut Ozil, who is capable out on the right wing or in a deeper berth in the centre.
|
Guler vs Wirtz (League Form 25/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90) |
Guler |
Wirtz |
|
Games played |
33 |
33 |
|
Goals & assists |
4 + 9 |
5 + 3 |
|
Successful pass % |
90.7 |
84.5 |
|
Chances created |
70 |
60 |
|
Shots (on target) |
49 (19) |
51 (18) |
|
Dribbles completed |
27 |
39 |
|
Crosses completed |
39 |
60 |
|
Duels won |
109 |
99 |
Hailed as the “best CM/AM prospect in the world right now” by European football expert Neal Gardner, it’s clear that Guler and Wirtz share more of a likeness than with Barcola, who could actually partner up well with the Turkish talent. His creativity and experience at the highest level with Real Madrid makes him a formidable prospect.
Guler’s show-stopping striking has changed games in the past, and his deft dribbling also offers something Wirtz-esque that Liverpool could push for. Could the duo coexist in an Iraola system? Perhaps not; not with both vying for a starting berth. But this would be a game-changing signing for Liverpool, should Wirtz fail to make the requisite improvements.
Given that he wins more duels than the German, getting more stuck in, you could also assert that Guler has the potential to withstand the rigours of Premier League football to a greater degree than his positional rival.
It’s a deal that Liverpool should consider pouncing on, should the right opportunity arise. Iraola believes Wirtz will come good, but this is a rare opportunity to sign an even more exciting up-and-comer.