{"id":255240,"date":"2026-07-29T19:45:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T19:45:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/29\/forget-barcola-why-85m-winger-is-iraolas-dream-liverpool-target\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T19:45:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T19:45:14","slug":"forget-barcola-why-85m-winger-is-iraolas-dream-liverpool-target","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/29\/forget-barcola-why-85m-winger-is-iraolas-dream-liverpool-target\/","title":{"rendered":"Forget Barcola: Why \u00a385m winger is Iraola’s dream Liverpool target"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Many Liverpool<\/a> supporters will have questions about how Andoni Iraola<\/a> can deliver success at Anfield, but they will receive their answers during the upcoming Premier League<\/a> campaign.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Spaniard has secured a winning start in pre-season after beating Sunderland 4-2 on Saturday night, but you can only gauge so much from non-competitive action.<\/p>\n

However, he already appears to have implemented his high-pressing out-of-possession style, with attacker Kieran Morrison claiming the boss told him to do \u201cthings he\u2019s never heard before.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n
\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Phil Noble<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Whilst the 19-year-old is unlikely to be a part of the Reds\u2019 senior squad this term, he will already have the upper hand over any new addition given his close work with the 44-year-old.<\/p>\n

FSG\u2019s efforts to land attacking talent have ramped up over recent weeks, but the hierarchy should steer clear of landing one big-money star.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Liverpool should walk away from the Bradley Barcola deal<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Unless you\u2019ve been living under a rock, you will know that Liverpool have been relentlessly hunting for the signature of PSG left-winger Bradley Barcola in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

The Frenchman has appeared as the Reds\u2019 number one attacking priority<\/a>, with the player himself desperate to leave the Ligue 1 outfit to take on a new challenge.<\/p>\n

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\n \"PSG\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

However, any deal would be a club record for Iraola\u2019s men, as his current employers have slapped a staggering \u00a3145m price tag on the forward\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

Spending such funds on Barcola would be a massive error on FSG\u2019s part, with the attacker a talented option, but undoubtedly not worth the reported transfer fee.<\/p>\n

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Bradley Barcola – goals by season in his career<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Season<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Games<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Goals<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2021\/22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2022\/23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2023\/24<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

42<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2024\/25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

58<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2025\/26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

55<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Throughout 2025\/26, he featured 55 times, scoring 13 goals and laying on eight assists – a tally which was bettered by Reds midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai despite featuring in fewer games.<\/p>\n

Such a comparison highlights his lack of success within forward areas and raises the question: Would you pay \u00a3145m for the Hungarian international who\u2019s been more prolific in forward areas?<\/p>\n

The PSG star is also unproven in England\u2019s top flight, which presents an added risk, which could see the forward become another huge waste of money on Merseyside.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Liverpool can land a bigger talent than Barcola this summer<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

This summer\u2019s priority for Liverpool is no doubt to add more attacking quality to the senior ranks after the departure of fan-favourite Mohamed Salah at the end of last term.<\/p>\n

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\n \"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Hugo Ekitike\u2019s injury and Cody Gakpo\u2019s struggles have only highlighted the need for reinforcements, which could see the Reds\u2019 hierarchy spend a pretty penny once again.<\/p>\n

Countless options have been discussed, but a reunion between Bournemouth winger Rayan and boss Iraola could well be on the cards ahead of 2026\/27.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been reported by talkSPORT that the Brazilian attacker is considered as the club\u2019s dream target and the manager would be keen on re-signing the 19-year-old star.<\/p>\n

They also claim the forward has an \u00a385m release clause which becomes active in the summer of 2027, with a move needing to be conducted to avoid paying over the odds.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear how much a deal could cost this summer, but the Reds would be landing a player who can develop into a world-class operator under Iraola\u2019s guidance.<\/p>\n

When comparing his stats to those of Barcola last term, Rayan managed to outperform the Frenchman despite 2025\/26 being his first season in a top European league.<\/p>\n

He netted an impressive tally of five goals in just 15 league games, subsequently registering 0.4 goals per 90 – a figure which the PSG was unable to match.<\/p>\n

The aforementioned figure placed him above 91% of attackers in Europe – which demonstrates his superb ability to find the back of the net despite his tender age.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Rayan\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

As a result, he achieved a better goal per game and minute per goal ratio than the PSG man, subsequently doing so whilst operating with a lower-quality outfit.<\/p>\n

Rayan also managed to provide endless opportunities for other attackers around him, as seen by his tally of 0.9 big chances created per 90 – a figure also two times higher than Barcola.<\/p>\n

Such numbers allowed him to provide more key opportunities than 92% of forwards on the continent – which makes him a huge all-round threat within the final third.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Rayan\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Even at the recent World Cup, the Brazilian outperformed the \u00a3145m star, subsequently completing nearly two times more of the dribbles he attempted in the United States.<\/p>\n

Given the difference in immediate quality and staggering price difference, it should be a no-brainer for Liverpool to make a move for Rayan instead of Barcola.<\/p>\n

His experience of working with Iraola could also make him an immediate star at Anfield, as he already knows the demands of the Spaniard\u2019s high-intensity system.<\/p>\n

A move for his signature could be difficult given he only joined the Cherries in January, but he\u2019s a player who could star for the next decade on Merseyside given his tender age.<\/p>\n