{"id":950867,"date":"2026-05-10T17:27:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T17:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/950867\/"},"modified":"2026-05-10T17:27:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T17:27:23","slug":"how-liverpool-could-line-up-after-pulling-off-dream-transfers-for-bradley-barcola-and-adam-wharton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/950867\/","title":{"rendered":"How Liverpool could line up after pulling off ‘dream’ transfers for Bradley Barcola and Adam Wharton"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\/ Add as preferred source on Google <\/a> <\/p>\n

Liverpool are already plotting their summer transfer window as they aim to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Reds look set for plenty of change for a second year running, with FSG likely to back Arne Slot in the transfer market if Champions League qualification is secured.<\/p>\n

Despite there being two weeks of the season left to play, top targets are now starting to emerge in the press.<\/p>\n

The table after today\u2019s bore draw. How damaging could the dropped points still prove to be? <\/p>\n

We could do with Bournemouth losing\u2026<\/p>\n

\" ArnePhoto Credit: Getty Images\/Gareth Copley <\/p>\n

In midfield, there have been claims that Liverpool want Adam Wharton above all<\/a>, while reports from France on Sunday suggest that Bradley Barcola is getting closer to Anfield<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n

Slot promised Liverpool will be \u2018a different team<\/a>\u2018 in 2026\/27, and the additions of Wharton<\/a> and Barcola<\/a> would go some way to ensuring that. But how could the Reds line up under Slot with their two new arrivals?<\/p>\n

Liverpool could play 4-2-2-2<\/p>\n

Before Hugo Ekitike\u2019s serious injury in April, there had been suggestions that Liverpool would switch to a 4-2-2-2 formation<\/a> with Ekitike and Isak playing in front of Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, although Ekitike will clearly now miss most of next season, there had already been reports that a new winger would be a priority for the Reds during the summer. Something doesn\u2019t quite add up.<\/p>\n

What is perhaps most likely is that Liverpool are after a versatile wide player who could also partner Alexander Isak up front while Ekitike recovers.<\/p>\n

The signs suggest that this will be Barcola, who could drift from the left, with Isak drifting from the right, and Wirtz and Szoboszlai backing them up through the middle. That looks like a deadly foursome in attack for Liverpool with Ekitike still to come in. <\/p>\n

\"FCPhoto by Harry Langer\/DeFodi Images\/DeFodi via Getty Images<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano explains what\u2019s going on with Andoni Iraola as Liverpool prepare internal Arne Slot review<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Who would partner Wharton in midfield?<\/p>\n

There are some question marks over Wharton\u2019s suitability<\/a> to what Liverpool need in midfield right now. Some supporters would prefer to see a little more steel acquired rather than the silk of the Crystal Palace man.<\/p>\n

Liverpool appear very keen on Wharton regardless of any external doubts, however, and if they do pay the reported \u00a380m fee to sign him, he will go straight into the XI.<\/p>\n

That is likely to come at the expense of Alexis Mac Allister, who may not leave Liverpool, but is more vulnerable than Ryan Gravenberch, who recently signed a new contract.<\/p>\n

A midfield two of Wharton and Gravenberch propping up Wirtz and Szoboszlai looks extremely technical, but there would still be some lingering concerns over Liverpool\u2019s physicality in the middle of the pitch.<\/p>\n

\"LiverpoolLiverpool potential XI 2026\/27<\/p>\n

Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate \u2013 provided he signs his new contract \u2013 can add that behind, while Milos Kerkez is certain to be the left-back. Right-back is shrouded in doubt, but Conor Bradley should start the season in pole position if a new signing is not made, while the rumours won\u2019t disappear on Alisson Becker, meaning Giorgi Mamardashvili could be a new permanent fixture between the sticks.<\/p>\n

Is there enough change to give Liverpool back the impetus they have so comprehensively lost this season, or do they need to switch things up and look at a few different targets instead? Things are heating up, let\u2019s see where the cards fall. <\/p>\n

Join Our Newsletter<\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Add as preferred source on Google Liverpool are already plotting their summer transfer window as they aim to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":950868,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[9877,116916,748,393,4884,179,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-950867","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-adam-wharton","9":"tag-bradley-barcola","10":"tag-britain","11":"tag-england","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-liverpool","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116551460722870665","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/950867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=950867"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/950867\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/950868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=950867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=950867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=950867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}