Feared in attack, light at the back - why Liverpool's transfer window leaves questions
September 2, 2026 09:10
Liverpool have completed a big summer of activity, spending heavily on attacking talent while allowing several senior players to depart. The club signed Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for £123m and added Victor Muñoz and Ronald Araújo (on loan), among others, taking combined summer purchases to about £217.5m. Accounting for a January arrival, the club’s net outlay this window sits just under £200m.
At the same time Liverpool lost Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté on free transfers, sold Curtis Jones to Inter Milan for £30m and turned down an £80m offer from Manchester City for Cody Gakpo. On the field, the team have conceded twice in each of their first two league matches, underlining early-season defensive fragility.
KEY CONTEXT
Last summer Liverpool spent a record £415m under Arne Slot, signing Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak and generating about £188m from sales to leave a net spend of £227m. This summer’s recruitment has been judged differently by club officials, who warned it would not be a repeat of that previous window.
Paris Saint-Germain sources described the Barcola exit as part of a large sales push that generated more than £280m from five fringe players; Liverpool see Barcola as a high-quality wide attacker despite his limited minutes at PSG. The club also brought in Araújo as short-term defensive reinforcement after injuries to Joe Gomez and others.
WHY IT MATTERS
The summer has materially strengthened Liverpool’s forward line — the club believes the trio of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola could form a potent attacking group. That arrival of attacking quality offers a chance to lift the team after a disappointing prior campaign.
However, the squad still shows potential vulnerabilities at the back and in a dedicated defensive-midfield role. Long-term absences for young centre-backs Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez’s pre-season issue and an underwhelming start from full-backs have left defensive depth a concern. Liverpool have not replaced the specialist “number six” since Fabinho’s 2023 exit, and senior figures at the club say they are content with current midfield options for the moment — with any permanent midfield recruitment considered more likely in January or next summer.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Bradley Barcola’s possible first appearance, which the club suggested could come in the upcoming trip to Ipswich.
- Whether defensive form improves after the early matches that saw Liverpool concede twice in each game.
- The club’s plans over a defensive midfielder: Liverpool spent time looking at Lamine Camara but according to the club had no plan to buy a midfielder this summer, leaving January or the next transfer window as the likely windows for such a signing.
- Araújo’s loan spell and the option to make that move permanent next summer for £47m, plus the development timeline for new goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, who is seen as a longer-term prospect.
KEY FACTS
- Bradley Barcola signed from PSG for £123m.
- Combined summer signings including Barcola, Muñoz and Araújo cost about £217.5m; net spend this summer is just under £200m when earlier confirmed deals are included.
- Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté left on free transfers; Curtis Jones moved to Inter for £30m.
- Manchester City reportedly had an £80m bid rejected for Cody Gakpo.
- Ronald Araújo arrived on loan with an option to buy for £47m next summer; goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans was signed from Genk in a deal that could rise to £30m.