27 Jul 2026 11:46:08
Hi all,
Once the deal for Barcola is concluded, Liverpool plan to launch a major transfer attack for Rayan. Iraola is pushing.
27 Jul 2026 11:53:32
Just can't get on board with signing someone for 100m who only moved 6 months ago for 30.
27 Jul 2026 11:57:03
Fantastic news. Cheers VG.
27 Jul 2026 11:58:34
@DK97, That's what happens in a tight market like the current one. We don't really have much of a choice other than if we want to have an average season. Barcola on the left, Rayan on the right, sounds like a great combination. idk about Gakpo tho.
27 Jul 2026 11:58:59
At least Rayan provides an actual right sided option and not just someone who "can" play there.
Tbh, I see Iraola swapping the wide players in game and game to game, but would be nice to have an actual wide right attacker.
Slight issue is that, bar Barcola and Chiesa, the rest are very inexperienced.
I can see Gakpo being sold.
27 Jul 2026 12:02:22
Cheers VG, looks like things are moving and we're cooking on gas.
27 Jul 2026 12:08:10
I really hope this is the case - I'm sure 6 months in the prem is better than 12 months in Germany!! Think him and Barcola would be fantastic for us!!
27 Jul 2026 12:08:36
Get these two in and then go for a right back/ centre back, and it'll be a good window. Thank you, VG, and hope these two deals happen.
27 Jul 2026 12:08:46
Cheers, VG. Seems logical, apart from the price, which I am sure will be insane.
27 Jul 2026 12:11:49
Brilliant if true. Gakpo sold to recoup some money. All three wingers and Rio will be under 24.
27 Jul 2026 12:12:54
Thanks, VG, I'm excited by the prospect of these two on either wing.
27 Jul 2026 12:20:18
Thanks, VG. Will end up very pricey, good ole Rayan. I'd prefer Minteh if I'm being honest, but wouldn't complain too much as it's not my money being spent! So long as other positions are not neglected (ie. a DM, RB and CB).
27 Jul 2026 12:26:59
So, Reds, would we be happy with the following as our attack options:
Isak
Barcola
Munoz
Ngumoha
Rayan (Potentially)
Ekitike (Injured until 2027)
Gakpo (likely to leave)
Chiesa
Elliott
Danns
Wright
Koumas
Figueroa
Or do we need another senior striker to cover Isak...?
27 Jul 2026 12:34:34
@uchafuRED, With how much we still need to do with the squad, I'm content giving Koumas, Chiesa (probs will be sold tbh), Danns (if he can get fit and is not loaned) or even Wright a chance as backup until Hugo is back to fitness. Also, think Barcola and Munoz have the potential to fill in as strikers, although preferably not.
Loved what I saw from Koumas and Chiesa against Sunderland, just not sure how it will stack in the real season. But yeah, I would love to see us give the youngsters (plus Chiesa if he's still here) a chance!
27 Jul 2026 12:35:38
You can't beat silly season (the transfer windows) to beat the VAR drama of the WC. Far from in the know, just an avid reader between the lines to find some correlation.
I don't see Barcola coming to LFC. He's not the right fit.
27 Jul 2026 12:38:48
I'm not sold on Rayan at all, but only because I've not seen enough evidence from him yet. He looks like a talented player, but it's only 6 months. After 6 months of Prem football, people were saying Kobbie Mainoo was the next Seedorf. Think Scholes even said his were as good as Zidane.
It's a lot easier for a kid with no pressure/expectation to come in and do well initially, than it is for them to continue that form once they've set the bar high enough that opposition players will respect them, and fans will demand more from them.
For me, Rayan is a huge risk, but if Iraola is personally pushing for him, obviously it goes without saying he's forgotten more about Rayan than I know.
27 Jul 2026 12:42:13
Rayan and Barcola would bring back plenty of pace to the wings, something we sorely missed last season.
27 Jul 2026 12:44:50
I don't see that as a title challenging attack options.
27 Jul 2026 12:50:08
Barcola is a risky signing - looks lightweight and suited to a farmers league rather than a low block, physical league with 3 games a week.
Another Edwards fantasy football signing, along with Isak. Wirtz 'may' yet flop also - so we do not need anymore lightweight players.
Bed in youngsters and wait for the right player.
27 Jul 2026 12:51:32
Can't see us buying another striker to provide cover while Ekitike is injured. Wouldn't mind Chiesa filling in the backup striker role. He could do well in the new system.
27 Jul 2026 12:52:44
Mane and Bobby were grafters who got stuck in, Mo.
Was a generational talent. We do not need 2/3 lightweight players in attack in this league. Why are we still after Edwards fantasy football signings?
27 Jul 2026 12:53:24
I would just like to mention, I don't have an alt-ego, or account, for that matter; which I say since @Red-Barron is the only one that agrees with me in regards to Barcola.
Clearing that up right now. I am not grizz mark 2.
27 Jul 2026 13:09:33
These 2 and a rb and Wharton would be a good window.
27 Jul 2026 13:21:57
Lightsise, give it a break, mate.
Every Barcola thread saying he's lightweight and literally twice in this thread. Broken record.
27 Jul 2026 13:29:51
Lightsise, waffling on about "lightweight" and farmers league when Barcola has smashed it in the UCL, especially against English sides like City and Chelsea. Just chill down, mate. And calling both La Liga and Ligue 1 farmers leagues may be true (not really in La Liga case), but the players we are talking about play for the top clubs in their respective leagues who also dominate the UCL (Camavinga at Madrid, who have won the most UCLs...
and Barcola at PSG, the b2b champs).
27 Jul 2026 13:38:18
Rayan makes sense to me if Gakpo is going.
Barcola, Isak, Rayan, Rio, Munoz, Chiesa and youngsters seem decent to me, and once Ekitike gets back, the options look very healthy.
Obviously, we have quite a few players like Wirtz and Elliott that can play wings too.
27 Jul 2026 13:41:45
Victor, thank you for all the good information.
Are we trying to get Barcola, Ryan?
And, I'm curious about centre back and right back and centre midfield targets!
27 Jul 2026 13:44:51
Barcola and Rayan….. my nipples are rotating!
27 Jul 2026 13:45:37
Hello Pulv,
Barcola never smashed Chelsea when it really mattered in the World Club Cup final. PSG got smashed 3-0. In fact, he was that good he was a substitute, couldn't even make the best eleven.
If he's not good enough for PSG to be a regular starter, then I would not sign him. I hope it's all internet hype. Munoz is OK for LW, an alternative will be found to replace Salah RW, and it won't cost £145 million?
27 Jul 2026 13:51:58
VictorGoddam, can ask who is leading our transfer dealings?
It seems like Iraola has a heavy influence on who we're picking. Barcola and Jacquet, albeit, were long term targets. However, Munoz and Rayan definitely feel like Iraola has hand picked them.
With Edwards sacked, and Hughes allegedly working on Diaz moving to Saudi, I'm just wondering who's leading the negotiations for us? Billy Hogan and/or Julian Ward were my educated guesses. Surely not Iraola?
27 Jul 2026 13:59:24
Exactly the risk I want to see the club take. Again, if it's crazy money then walk away, as we shouldn't be mugs, but, regardless, it comes with less of the glamour and a proven PL player. Happy days.
27 Jul 2026 13:59:38
007, There is no shame in not being able to get a game ahead of Kvaratskhelia on the left wing.
Using that as a stick to beat Barcola with would be like saying "I don't want Julian Alvarez, he couldn't even get in as a striker ahead of Haaland when he was at Man City".
Also let's not forget that we've historically done pretty well with players who couldn't get a game at other big clubs. Coutinho (Inter), Sturridge (Chelsea), Gravenberch (Bayern) and Milner (Man City) all come to mind.
27 Jul 2026 14:09:52
@DK97, How much have FSG asked you to contribute to the transfer fee? If, as I suspect, the answer is nothing, then I suggest you stop worrying how much the club are willing to pay as it's neither your problem or your call.
27 Jul 2026 14:11:55
With fat wallet on this. Barcola, Rayan, Wharton and a rb would do us. However, I'd add another midfielder, someone like Camara, and get shut of Macca and Gakpo... If Chiesa goes, throw Will Wright in. And if Jones goes, promote from youth anyway.
27 Jul 2026 14:13:58
007. World Club Cup final was a sham, let's be real. In the UCL, Barcola turned it around for PSG against City with arguably his best game for the club, played well against Chelsea, got an assist against us at Anfield and probs should've bagged at least one against Arsenal after finding space behind the "best defence in the world" (as Arsenal fans like to call it).
He's unfortunate he is behind an even better left winger in Kvaratskhelia at PSG, yet Barcola still played more minutes than Doue in both the league and the UCL... Yes the biggest profile in the market does not always guarantee success and the inflation is insane (no one is debating that), but you are being extremely cynical of him.
When you look at Rayan for €100m+ there is no doubt Barcola is the more complete and proven player, albeit he is not a right winger. My hope still lies in us signing an additional RW with Gakpo's exit facilitating that.
In this market, you need to accept fees are ludicrous. Minteh is quoted to be around €80m, which is absurd given the 7 GA he achieved last season. It is what it is - doesn't mean Barcola is a subpar player.
27 Jul 2026 14:22:05
Let's hope we're going to outscore teams then because we don't have a fit defence.
27 Jul 2026 14:29:45
Someone said that this potential attack wouldn't be a title challenging attack.
Did Arsenal not win the league with Trossard and Noni Mdueweke?
We don't need an absolute star in every position. We didn't under Klopp. He made them into stars. I think that is what Iraola will do as well. My only issue is the prices being talked about for these guys.
27 Jul 2026 14:38:56
Am I the only one that sees a right sided Gakpo when he watches Rayan? Gakpo's highlight reels are actually far more impressive too.
27 Jul 2026 14:51:30
That's great news and I like the fact that Iraola is the one pushing for him.
27 Jul 2026 14:55:30
“Barcola never smashed Chelsea when it really mattered in the World Club Cup final.”
007, the World Club Cup final really never mattered, glorified friendly and nothing more. Garish vulgar trophy won by a garish vulgar team in a competition run by a garish vulgar corrupt organisation.
27 Jul 2026 15:14:27
Arsenal had 7/8 senior options for their front 3. Many of them knew this league.
What's been suggested above is less than that and contains teenagers, one of which is still a child.
There isn't a comparison.
Arsenal also had a very stable defence with options. Something we also don't have.
27 Jul 2026 15:15:04
You took the words out of my mouth, Inbeta. How anyone can say that attack is not a title challenging attack, when the current champions have Gyokeres, Trossard, Martinelli, Madueke, Saka, and the forever injured Jesus is beyond me.
I literally wouldn't want to sign any of those players because none of them improve us.
27 Jul 2026 15:20:30
Vv, that's how I describe your posts, garish vulgar pessimism. ?
27 Jul 2026 16:54:39
Barcola won't get the goals return of Gakpo but he may dovetail better with the rest on a good day - no guarantees tees though. A highly inconsistent player.
27 Jul 2026 16:56:04
I don't think I'm wrong on any of those counts, though, Man of Todd. It's nothing more than the Waitrose version of the Makita international tournament that used to happen at Wembley back in the days.
27 Jul 2026 16:59:15
I know it's said Rayan had a good 6 months but the truth is he only actually played 4 months in the PL.
Debut on the 31 Jan and last game 24 May. He's started 13 PL games.
27 Jul 2026 18:05:36
Rayan has 6 months Premier League experience vs Diamande, who has a year in the blunders league? I'm sure Rayan is the better bet.
And AI has worked with him, another bonus.
27 Jul 2026 18:17:21
Some of the shouts on here are terrible. We should have never signed Salah because he wasn't a nailed on starter for Chelsea. Shouts of lightweight players when Rio weighs about 2 stone but everyone clambers for him to start. Things are going to be better than last season - some of you would've imploded during the 90s era.
27 Jul 2026 18:20:15
Personally, after all the injuries we had last season, I think it would be mad to sell Gakpo
At least in this window.
27 Jul 2026 18:27:16
Notagame, I've been saying that for a while now. He's the only one currently qualified to cover Ekitike/Isak. It would be moronic to let him go even if we got Barcola and Rayan.
27 Jul 2026 18:33:53
Hughes to do list:-
Must. Work. On. Only. One. Signing. At. A. Time.
27 Jul 2026 18:44:46
Hughes to do list
Sell or give for free Gomez asap.
27 Jul 2026 18:45:04
And what if Gakpo wants to leave? Think, if Bayern are in for him, he will want to go imo.
27 Jul 2026 19:09:34
I would keep Gakpo. He was playing under a bad manager last season and a bad team. He looks decent for Klopp, good finisher, most of the time. Big and strong, doesn't get injured. He might not be a starter, but certainly useful to keep on the bench. That being said. If someone offered £70m for him, I'd take it.
27 Jul 2026 19:09:49
Now that is not only something I can get behind, but something I believe is necessary! Barcola alone, as good as he is/can be, just won't solve our problems, just a bunch of LW who "can" play elsewhere.
But Rayan does change everything, as not only is he a proper RW, he also can be deployed as a CF to a much higher standard than Gakpo and Chiesa!
We could sell Gakpo to fund this, start Barcola - Isak - Rayan, and have Rio and Victor coming on or even starting games when needed.
Rio won't start every game, so this is much much much more balanced than having Barcola or Rio at RW, just so Gakpo can play LW.
27 Jul 2026 19:17:39
We've got to be realistic with the finances, and with Cody himself. He'll want to go, and to part fund all the business this summer we need to raise money.
27 Jul 2026 22:31:52
First, we're gonna say we're not going to attack... and that's when we attack!
That was sarcasm, I appreciate the info VV provides, and hope Rayan joins if Iraola really wants him. This was not an insult, just some fun with the English language!