Why Liverpool’s Barcola deal has not ended the winger scramble

Liverpool agreed a £120 million deal for Bradley Barcola, but the predominantly left-sided forward is not a direct positional replacement for Mohamed Salah and the club remains interested in another wide attacker. [5] Liverpool then rejected Manchester City’s £80 million bid for Cody Gakpo because of concern about finding a replacement, sending City back toward alternatives including Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye. [2] Why it matters: The linked negotiations show how one elite transfer can intensify rather than resolve a market: Liverpool must balance Barcola’s fit with Gakpo’s future, while City needs width after allowing Savio and Omar Marmoush to join Tottenham. [2][5] Key insights: Barcola played 77% of his PSG minutes on the left and only 13% on the right, while Salah’s favored position was the right flank. [5] | Among Ligue 1 wingers with at least 1,500 minutes last season, Barcola ranked in the 98th percentile for backline-challenging runs, opposition-box touches and successful attacking one-on-ones. [5] | Tottenham is already in advanced talks for Ndiaye, with the player valued at £60 million, creating direct competition if City pivots away from Gakpo. [2] | City did not name a winger among its substitutes against Crystal Palace and used Phil Foden, whom Enzo Maresca said is not a winger, out wide. [2] Cheatsheet facts: What changed: Liverpool rejected City’s £80 million Gakpo bid after agreeing a £120 million deal for Barcola. [2][5] | Why now: Liverpool is concerned about replacing Gakpo, while City wants a wide forward after Savio and Omar Marmoush departed for Tottenham. [2] | Watch next: Watch whether Gakpo stays, whether City enters the advanced Ndiaye negotiations, and whether Liverpool adds another wide forward before the window closes. [2][5]