Former Red Claims Liverpool Transfer Window Is Mixed

Key Points

• However, according to Jamie Carragher, the window is both “okay” and not so good for Liverpool in terms of their squad balance despite some major signings.
• This includes the purchase of Bradley Barcola (£123m), Jeremy Jacquet (£60m), Victor Munoz (£34.5m) and the loaning of Ronald Araujo, while earning £31.7m from transfers.
• Carragher stated that there were some issues with the absence of a right winger who uses his left foot as well as a problem with full-backs and midfielders.
• In this case, Liverpool ended up with the biggest net expenditure in the league at £219m, but still, fans’ faith in them winning the league is low.
• At this point, it will be up to manager Andoni Iraola to get the most out of this unbalanced squad.

Liverpool Sports (Liverpool standard) September 02, 2026 – Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has delivered a measured but critical assessment of the club’s summer business, describing the 2026 transfer window as mixed due to persistent squad imbalances despite significant investment. Speaking to Sky Sports, Carragher acknowledged the quality of incoming players but warned that recruitment appeared to prioritise individual talent over cohesive team construction.

As reported by the Liverpool ECHO’s correspondent, Carragher stated:

“I think it’s been okay, really. The main thing was to improve in the wide areas, and they’ve brought two wingers in… The real signing is Barcola… but it’s on the opposite flank.”

He added that the “big disappointment” was the absence of a direct, left-footed right-sided attacker to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah’s free transfer departure to Trabzonspor.

Carragher’s comments were echoed in coverage by Anfield Index, which noted his concern that “all the wide players we have right now are right-footed” and that Liverpool lacked a player who could cut inside from the right onto their left foot “with devastating effect” as Salah routinely did. The former centre-back concluded:

“We’ve got four left wingers and we haven’t got one right winger. Something like that just doesn’t feel right to me.”

How Did Liverpool’s Transfer Activity Unfold This Summer?

Liverpool’s 2026 summer window featured six senior arrivals and six permanent departures, alongside 11 loan deals, according to This Is Anfield’s comprehensive roundup. The headline acquisition was France international Bradley Barcola, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain for £123m after a protracted negotiation, making him the second-most expensive signing in the club’s history.

Other incomings included Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes (£60m), a deal agreed in January but completed in summer; Victor Munoz from Osasuna (£34.5m), described as a pacey, versatile forward; and Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan to bolster defensive options. Young goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans was signed from Genk for £30m but immediately loaned back, while Ifeanyi Ndukwe arrived from Austria Wien for £2.6m before being loaned to Levante due to work permit issues.

On the outbound side, Curtis Jones moved to Inter Milan for £30m, accounting for the majority of Liverpool’s £31.7m in sales revenue. Stefan Bajcetic returned to Celta Vigo for £1m, and Luca Stephenson joined Bolton for £700,000. High-profile free exits included Mohamed Salah (Trabzonspor), Andy Robertson (Tottenham) and Ibrahima Konate (Real Madrid), the latter two leaving after contract expiries.

Sky Sports data shows Liverpool ended the window with the Premier League’s highest net spend at £219.4m, having spent £250.1m gross but recouped only £31.7m. This placed them ahead of Ipswich (£190.7m), Tottenham (£176m) and Arsenal (£136.6m) in net expenditure.

Why Does Squad Balance Remain a Concern for Andoni Iraola?

Despite the influx of talent, Carragher and other observers argue that Liverpool’s squad construction lacks tactical coherence, particularly in wide attacking areas and at full-back. The absence of a natural right winger is compounded by Conor Bradley’s injury, leaving manager Andoni Iraola without a specialist right-back and limited options to replicate Salah’s inverted threat from the right flank.

As summarised by Anfield Index, Carragher remarked:

“We’re short in the full-back areas and, for me, probably a midfield player as well.”

He contrasted Liverpool’s approach with past eras under Jurgen Klopp, when signings were made with a clear plan for how players would “knit together as a team”.

“Liverpool in the last two summers, it’s almost been like Liverpool were Real Madrid, and they’re just going for the best player on the market for the most money,”

Carragher said, adding that while such deals excite fans, “there’s no real thought to how it’s all going to knit together as a team.”

The Athletic and BBC Sport have similarly noted that while Liverpool addressed wide attacking depth with Barcola and Munoz, they did not sign an out-and-out defensive midfielder or adequate full-back cover, leaving Iraola to rely on positional adaptations or youth options. With Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic all departing, midfield versatility has also been reduced.

What Are the Financial and Strategic Implications of Liverpool’s Window?

Liverpool’s £219.4m net spend underscores a strategic shift toward premium, marquee signings, but the low recoupment from sales has limited flexibility. Sporting director Richard Hughes oversaw the sixth-highest gross spend in the Premier League (£250.1m) but generated only the eighth-lowest sales revenue (£31.7m), according to Sky Sports.

This imbalance reflects both market realities and Liverpool’s retention of key assets; for example, Cody Gakpo remained at Anfield despite late interest from Manchester City. However, the failure to sell players for significant fees—combined with major departures on free transfers—has constrained reinvestment capacity.

Anfield Index reported that senior figures at Liverpool acknowledged this would not be a window like the previous summer, when the club spent a record £415m under Arne Slot. Yet the cumulative effect of high spending without proportional sales has raised questions about sustainability and squad planning, especially as title expectations remain high.

Background of the Particular Development

Liverpool’s 2026 transfer activity follows a period of significant transition. After winning the Premier League title just over a year ago under Arne Slot, the club entered the 2026 summer with new manager Andoni Iraola tasked with refreshing an ageing squad while maintaining competitiveness. The departures of long-serving figures such as Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate created immediate gaps in experience and leadership, particularly in attack and defence.

Historically, Liverpool’s recruitment under Klopp emphasised system-fit over star power, with players selected for specific tactical roles. In contrast, the last two windows have seen the club pursue high-profile, expensive talents such as Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and now Bradley Barcola, drawing comparisons to Real Madrid’s galactico model. While these signings elevate the squad’s ceiling, critics argue they have not always addressed structural needs, leading to imbalances that Iraola must now manage.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Liverpool Supporters and Title Ambitions

Liverpool supporters may face a season of heightened anxiety as Iraola attempts to extract maximum performance from an unbalanced squad. Carragher’s assertion that “I don’t think anybody inside Liverpool supporters really believes we can win the league this season” reflects a broader scepticism that could dampen morale if early results falter.

Tactically, the lack of a natural right winger and full-back cover may force Iraola into reactive adjustments, potentially limiting attacking fluidity and defensive stability. If injuries mount or key players underperform, pressure will intensify on the recruitment team to justify the £219m net spend.

Conversely, if Barcola adapts quickly and Araujo provides defensive solidity, Liverpool could still challenge for top-four honours. However, without addressing the right-flank imbalance, a sustained title challenge appears unlikely, potentially affecting fan engagement, matchday atmosphere and commercial momentum heading into the 2027 window.