Andoni Iraola drops Bradley Barcola transfer hint in second Liverpool game
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Liverpool FC NewsTransfer NewsRio NgumohaLiverpool coach Andoni Iraola opted for a notable change for Rio Ngumoha in Wednesday's preseason clash against Wrexham with potentially incoming signing Bradley Barcola in mindBradley Barcola is edging closer to a Liverpool move(Image: Getty Images)In the second game of Liverpool's preseason, new coach Andoni Iraola opted for a seemingly benign change: he flipped Rio Ngumoha and Kieran Morrison's positions forwards.Against Sunderland last Saturday, Ngumoha lined up on the left — just as he did exclusively for former coach Arne Slot last campaign — and Morrison started on the right. But when Iraola subbed both on against Wrexham at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday in New York, the two youngsters switched flanks.It seemed a clear hint the Spanish manager is cognizant of the club's transfer business.
Barcola scored 34 goals over the last two seasons with the Parisians, helping the side capture back-to-back Champions League trophies.Ngumoha, 17, was dazzling against Wrexham. He's never shy to take on a man — he averaged more dribbles per 90 in the Premier League than any first-team regular, including Jeremy Doku of Manchester City — and showed it on Wednesday.Rio Ngumoha was virtually unplayable against Wrexham on Wednesday(Image: Getty Images)In the 75th minute, the young English international carried into the Welsh side's box and saw his deflected shot nestle past Callum Burton in the Wrexham goal.Ngumoha appeared in 19 Premier League matches for SLot a season ago, starting five and scoring twice, including a famous winner against Newcastle last August.Content cannot be displayed without consentTo earn more game time, he may have to occupy the vacant starting spot on the right wing occupied by Mohamed Salah for the last nine seasons.Sky Sports posted a question to X on Wednesday: "Is Bradley Barcola the player to replace Mo Salah at Liverpool?" Longtime Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher disagreed."No, he plays on the opposite flank!" the ex-Reds star noted.
"LFC currently [has] three players who could play from the left in Rio/Gakpo/Wirtz & no one who plays from the right"A Liverpool front line featuring Barcola, Florian Wirtz, and Ngumoha underneath a striker would be both incredibly small and lightweight. But with Iraola demanding both pressing and chaos — two staples of the lengthy Jurgen Klopp tenure — maybe some shifty dynamism will prove to be the answer.Either way, expect the dynamic Ngumoha to be a key part of IRaola's side next season.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Rio NgumohaLiverpool FC Pre-SeasonLiverpool FCTransfersAndoni Iraola