Liverpool showed that they can still surprise supporters in the transfer market last summer after completing huge deals to sign Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
The Isak deal in particular came as a shock, not only because of the size of the fee, but also because the Reds had already spent big on Hugo Ekitike at the time the Swede arrived. It had been assumed one or the other would join.
Fast forward 12 months, and all the talk is that Liverpool could buy either Yan Diomande or Bradley Barcola as their marquee winger addition. But with the focus seemingly on Diomande at present, the Reds could repeat their trick and sign both instead.
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Liverpool should sign Diomande and Barcola
Granted, it may not be the best idea for Liverpool to use the summer window of 2025 as a blueprint for future transfer strategies. So far, the decision to spend almost £200m on Isak and Ekitike has not paid off at all.
Nevertheless the hope is that once Ekitike is back to fitness in 2027, it still will. What was clear is that the Frenchman and Isak were the best two strikers on the market last summer, and Liverpool will hopefully still reap the rewards of signing them both.
This year, it is fairly clear that Diomande and Barcola are the best possible two players Liverpool could sign for their wide positions.
With Diomande looking to sort his future before the start of the World Cup next week, Richard Hughes should aim to get Barcola through the door later in the window too.
Barcola and Diomande complete Liverpool’s attack
Right now, Liverpool look short up front, but once Ekitike returns, options of the No. 22 along with Isak, Diomande, Barcola and Ngumoha looks about as good as it possibly could for the Reds.
If they go for a cheaper option than the PSG front man, they may find themselves with a gamble of a player who is not quite up to the standard of Diomande, Isak and Ekitike.
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Bringing in the creme de la creme for a second season running would set them up brilliantly to build a dynasty over the years to come.
Having said that, it would be a surprise if Liverpool did go for both of these players at the same time.
Few had expected Ekitike and Isak to arrive, but if the Reds do manage to keep Diomande away from PSG, it seems even more unlikely that the European champions would green light a move for Barcola to Anfield.
Liverpool have surprised before, though, and they are clearly serious about building a squad who can compete on all fronts for years to come. They knew they could do that by coupling Isak with Ekitike, and they know that going big and signing the best two wide players on the market this year would give them an even better chance of success.
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