Munoz shines in friendly as Liverpool reassess £130m Barcola pursuit

Victor Munoz’s eye-catching performance in Liverpool’s pre-season friendly against Como on Sunday has prompted the club to reconsider whether a move for PSG winger Bradley Barcola is truly necessary, with Andoni Iraola’s side set to kick off their Premier League campaign against Newcastle United in less than a week.

Munoz, signed from Osasuna for £34.6m in June, started on the left wing in the closed-doors match at the AXA Training Centre and tormented Como right-back Ivan Smolcic throughout his 46-minute outing in the 70-minute game. The World Cup winner’s display was so impressive that it has raised questions internally about whether Liverpool need to pursue Barcola at all.

Barcola had been identified as Liverpool’s primary attacking target following Mohamed Salah’s departure to Trabzonspor, but PSG’s £130m valuation has placed the deal firmly out of reach at present. There is also a positional complication: Barcola predominantly operates on the left wing, while Liverpool’s more pressing need is for a right-sided attacker. With young winger Rio Ngumoha reportedly adapting to both flanks, Munoz’s versatility and immediate impact may already provide a workable solution within the existing squad.

Elsewhere, midfielder Curtis Jones appears increasingly likely to leave Anfield before the window closes. Inter Milan have been tracking the England international for some time, though Liverpool’s £34m asking price has so far deterred the Italian club. Inter moved Davide Frattesi to Lazio in an effort to free up wages and squad space, and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the imminent sale of another midfielder — former Marseille man Luis Henrique — could finally give them the financial room to meet Liverpool’s valuation for Jones, with Iraola understood to prefer other options in central midfield.

Liverpool have made three senior signings this summer. Centre-back Jeremy Jacquet arrived from Rennes for £60m following negotiations that began in January, while Ronald Araujo joined on a one-year loan from Barcelona — with an option to buy for £47.1m — to partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of defence, filling the void left by Ibrahima Konate’s free transfer to Real Madrid.