There is a lot of excitement in the air at Liverpool right now as FSG continue to push and investigate a bid to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain, but let’s hold our horses for a moment.
As things stand, PSG do not want to sell the Frenchman, who turned down a contract extension to play a more important role elsewhere. All indications suggest that Liverpool are in a strong position to win the race, and Barcola has prioritized a move to Anfield over other players.
But if the French powerhouse fail to lower their £145m price tag, the prospect of adding “one of the best left-backs in the world”, as Barcola has been dubbed by commentator Ben Mattinson, to Andoni Iraola’s squad will be dashed.
It could mark the much-needed attacking additions, but would everyone be happy with Iraola’s squad? For example, would it jeopardize Florian Wirtz who is already on the move?
How Iraola can revive Wirtz at Liverpool
When Wirtz left Bayer Leverkusen and signed for Liverpool in June 2025, he was billed as an incredible playing talent, one of the most exciting players in the world. He fell some distance away from expectations under Arne Slot.
His clever footwork and quick thinking have earned him brownie points on occasion, but the German attacking midfielder has failed to control games and influence Liverpool as they battle a dramatic slump.
In fairness, Liverpool’s extensive problems made it difficult for the new arrivals to settle in and produce goods, but he still left a lot to be desired.
Can Iraola and the system change help him stand out? The 23-year-old showed promise at the World Cup for a lowly German side, and the numbers below suggest he could be in for an even stronger season than before.
Even with his struggles last season, Wirtz still ranks in the top 10% of teammates for touches, chances created and passes completed in the Premier League, and is a great pacer and tackler as the campaign deepens.
However, there are no guarantees that Wirtz will be firing on all cylinders at Liverpool next season, and if Iraola fails to land a hit with the big-money German, it’s important that FSG don’t sell the new coach short.
Liverpool are eyeing a move for the “world-class” midfielder.
Harvey Elliott has returned to Merseyside following his unsuccessful loan spell with Aston Villa, but handing him a leading role next season, without adding new support to the squad, would be a huge mistake for Iraola and his team-mates.
It is with that in mind that TEAMtalk revealed that Liverpool have listed a number of attacking midfielders in case their Barcola deal falls through, with Real Madrid talent Arda Guler among them. The £100m-rated midfielder has been on the radar of FSG for a while, and developments in Spain could pave the way for Liverpool to make an assessment.
Guler, 21, is one of the world’s most talented young players, but he has a different profile to someone like Barcola, and could instead threaten Wirtz’s place in Iraola’s starting lineup. It is understood that Liverpool have explored a move to sign the Turkish star,
With Los Blancos closing in on a deal to sign RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, Liverpool could pull a blinder here, signing a “world-class” talent, as described by Mesut Ozil, who can come out on the right wing or deep in midfield.
|
Guler vs Wirtz (League Form 25/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Mathematics (90 percentile) |
Guler |
Wirtz |
|
Games played |
33 |
33 |
|
Terms & Conditions |
4 + 9 |
5 + 3 |
|
Success % |
90.7 |
84.5 |
|
Opportunities are created |
70 |
60 |
|
Shots (on target) |
49 (19) |
51 (18) |
|
Dribbles are finished |
27 |
39 |
|
The crosses are finished |
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 have more in common than Barcola, who would pair well with the Turkish talent. His intelligence and high level experience with Real Madrid make him a fantastic prospect.
Guler’s dribbling has changed games in the past, and his dribbling gives something Wirtz-esque for Liverpool to push for. Can the duo live together in the Iraola system? Maybe not; not both of them claim the first berth. But this could be a game-changing signing for Liverpool, if Wirtz fails to make the necessary improvements.
Given that he is winning more duels than the German, who is more consistent, you can also argue that Guler has the ability to withstand the rigors of Premier League football to a greater extent than his rival.
It’s a deal Liverpool should consider using, should the right opportunity arise. Iraola believes Wirtz will fit in well, but this is a rare opportunity to sign an exciting newcomer.
