The clock is ticking, and Liverpool need more players at the start of the 2026/27 season.

Andoni Iraola and his squad have returned from a pre-season tour in the United States, and the new Spanish boss will have much to ponder, not least the potential of the wider outfit who played no part.

Staggered returns due to the World Cup have disrupted every Premier League outfit in their pre-season preparations, but Liverpool have not yet strengthened as many might have hoped, and there's no question that the squad is too thin ahead of the new campaign.

Liverpool are in a transitional period, but the current crop will not survive the conditions ahead. Several more signings are needed, and Barcola is the marquee signing in FSG's eyes.

Why Liverpool need a superstar like Barcola

Barcola, 23, is one of the most exciting forwards in the world, and though he hasn't always started week in and week out for Paris Saint-Germain over the past couple of years, he has still emerged as a superstar.

With 34 goals scored across the past two campaigns, only Ousmane Dembele has outscored Barcola for PSG. He has been instrumental in back-to-back Champions League campaigns.

The Les Bleus star wants to move to Anfield, and Liverpool are indeed engaged in club-to-club talks with PSG over a transfer, but some leeway will need to be made on the French side's part, having priced Barcola at a whopping £145m.

After all, Mohamed Salah waned last season - considerably. Replacing him on the right flank is a necessity, else Iraola's system will lack balance and dynamism over the coming year. Liverpool will fail to mount and sustain a title charge.

Barcola will help, to be sure, but he alone will not solve all of the Reds' problems. Liverpool need someone more naturally disposed to thrive down the right channel.

How about another PSG star?

Liverpool in direct talks for another PSG star

Desire Doue might be out of reach for the Liverpool persuasion this summer, but Reds sporting director Richard Hughes does have his eyes on another of PSG's emerging roster, with discussions underway.

According to RMC Sport, Liverpool are engaged in talks with PSG for 18-year-old right winger Ibrahim Mbaye, who has been informed that he is welcome to leave the Parc des Princes. Priced at €50m (£43m), a number of clubs have enquired about Mbaye's availability in recent weeks, but Liverpool stand out above their competitors.

Liverpool are indeed the favourites to complete this signing, and Mbaye wants to join, his representatives engaged in talks with the Merseysiders.

Mbaye has already featured 42 times for PSG's senior side, having posted four goals and four assists. He became increasingly important for the Parisians last season, starting ten times in Ligue 1 and notching five goal involvements.

Described as "the next Kylian Mbappe" in France by GOAL, Mbaye would make a far better Salah replacement than Barcola, who is a left winger, not right. He might be young, but in that, he would join Rio Ngumoha in emerging as a superstar at Anfield.

A versatile and unpredictable winger. Mbaye is direct. He boasts an edge that could help replace someone like Salah, not trying to mimic the Egyptian King, but at least bringing a flavour of the 34-year-old when firing on all cylinders for Liverpool.

The Senegal international, who starred at the World Cup, scoring a cracker against France, might be young, but he's passing each test in front of him with flying colours, and Liverpool could do far worse than snap up his signature ahead of the new season.

Given that he could join for almost nine digits less than Barcola, filling a more concerning hole for Iraola's outfit, there's a case to be made that this could be the far shrewder signing.

Mbaye has proven his worth already. He has the talent to make an instant impact at Liverpool, and the potential still in front of him to outstrip a star as bright as Barcola down the line.