Dave Hendrick On Moves for Barcola and Rodrygo as Transfer Window Heats Up | OneFootball

Liverpool Transfer Talk Intensifies Around Barcola and Rodrygo

The latest episode of the Daily Red Podcast, hosted by Dave Hendrick, brought a wave of intriguing Liverpool transfer speculation. While Arne Slot’s squad is already the reigning Premier League champions, Hendrick emphasised that the club’s recruitment team could still make significant attacking upgrades — with PSG’s Bradley Barcola and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo firmly on the radar.

Barcola’s Elite Numbers Demand Attention

Hendrick was unequivocal in his admiration for the French winger. “For me, Bradley Barcola is one of the very best left wingers in the world,” he said, before adding, “He’s 22 years of age, turns 23 at the start of September, and if you look at the season he just put up… he was one of the best players in Europe.”

Barcola’s versatility is a key selling point. Hendrick detailed how the PSG star operated “on the right, on the left, and through the middle” during a campaign that yielded “21 goals and 21 assists in about 4,000 minutes across all competitions.” Even more impressively, he delivered “14 and 11 in the league in just 2,200 minutes,” despite not always being a guaranteed starter.

Hendrick believes that if Liverpool “could give him a consistent role on the left, I think he’s genuinely the best left winger in the Premier League by a wide margin.”

Rodrygo Loan Proposal Would Be “Clever”

The podcast also revealed Liverpool’s interest in Rodrygo, with Hendrick reporting that “we’ve approached Real Madrid and asked them about the possibility of getting Rodrygo on a loan with an obligation to buy him next summer.”

This, he argued, could be a smart piece of business: “I think it would be a clever move for us if we can push back the payment till next summer. We could sell Gakpo next summer and largely cover that payment.”

While Hendrick admitted his personal preference would be Barcola, he described Rodrygo as “brilliant” and “a potentially world-class player,” noting that “there’s no such thing as having too many world-class players, especially ones who are versatile.”

Strategic Fit and Squad Dynamics

Hendrick acknowledged that Liverpool have been linked with a number of forwards this summer but stressed that Barcola and Rodrygo are “from a completely different category” compared to younger depth options. He dismissed concerns about blocking pathways for academy talents, saying, “The notion that you don’t sign a top five player in the world in their position because of a 16-year-old is absolute nonsense.”

The potential departure of Cody Gakpo next summer is central to this discussion. “I think Cody goes next summer… he’s not an elite-level player and he’s not the type of player I see us wanting to extend,” Hendrick explained. Bringing in Barcola or Rodrygo now would allow them to start immediately, with Gakpo acting as backup before being sold to free up a squad slot for Rio Ngumoha.

Financial Headroom Makes Deals Possible

From a financial perspective, Hendrick argued that Liverpool have “tons and tons of headroom” under profit and sustainability rules. He estimated that Barcola could cost “85–90 million” but stressed it’s “not outside the realms of possibility we could do it.”

He also floated the idea that Rodrygo’s loan structure could make the deal even more appealing, while still leaving room for other priorities like Alexander Isak. “If the opportunity is there, it’s an opportunity we should take,” Hendrick concluded.

With Newcastle’s handling of Isak’s situation still in flux, Liverpool’s attacking plans remain fluid. But based on Hendrick’s insights, Barcola and Rodrygo are far more than speculative names — they are realistic, high-impact targets that could elevate the Premier League champions to another level.