Bradley Barcola has been linked with Liverpool since 2025, and a move to Anfield this summer now looks to be on the cards.
Comments made this week say that there is ‘real potential’ for Barcola to join the Reds, as he seems to be one of the few wide options currently on the market.
However, Liverpool fans were concerned about Rio Ngumoha’s pathway into the first team when similar links emerged around this time last year, and those fears should be even more prevalent heading into 2026/27.
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Rio Ngumoha will struggle to start regularly ahead of Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz
Firstly, let’s all agree that the teenager needs to be starting a lot more games this season.
Arne Slot, Andoni Iraola, it does not matter who’s in charge. Ngumoha has proven he has the potential to be a generational talent, and at the very least, he should be in from the off in every other game Liverpool play next term.
But, as Liverpool supporters were anxious about in 2025, the addition of natural left-winger Barcola could hamper Rio’s minutes.
Those concerns came to light at a time when Cody Gakpo was the only out-and-out left winger at Anfield.
Since then, though, Liverpool have already agreed to sign Spanish World Cup star Victor Munoz, who is also best utilised off the left.
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So, at present, Iraola will have to pick between Munoz, Gakpo and Ngumoha to start off the left.
Granted, the Dutch forward may be used as a back-up striker in the first half of 2026/27 because Hugo Ekitike is out and Liverpool don’t have a lot of centre-forward cover.
But even if he is, Munoz and Ngumoha battling it out for a starting berth would be more than enough. So why sign Barcola?
Well, we know that the Frenchman is capable of playing off the right. But why spend all that money on a player then not use him in his primary position?
It is also worth pointing out that Barcola is right-footed, so unlike Salah, he would not be at his best cutting inside and providing a goal threat if he starts on the right.
To be honest, the PSG man would have been a better signing than Munoz to feature alongside Ngumoha on the left.
But a deal for the Spaniard has already been agreed, meaning the Barcola signing now feels a bit strange.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time in recent memory that the Reds have planned two big signings for one role.
Just look at Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak. Yes, both players suffered long-term injuries in 2025/26, so they were not fit at the same time for an extended period. But when the former returns in the middle of 2026/27, how is Iraola going to keep both players happy with regular minutes without impacting the team?
It feels like a similar situation is now unfolding on the left wing, and given Liverpool will need to pay big money for Barcola and Munoz, Ngumoha will probably be the unfortunate casualty who gets his minutes reduced.
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