Liverpool's Summer Transfer Debate: Wharton, Barcola, and McTominay

Liverpool’s summer debate is getting louder, and it’s coming from some unlikely corners.

MacAnthony wants Wharton as Mac Allister heir

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony, a committed Liverpool supporter, has nailed his colours to one name: Adam Wharton.

"I'd love them to sign Wharton," he told talkSPORT, before turning the spotlight on Alexis Mac Allister’s first full season at Anfield. "I think Alexis Mac Allister, for me, his legs were gone last year. It was only when he put an Argentina shirt on that his legs reappeared."

MacAnthony went further, openly floating the idea of a changing of the guard.

"If you could do business there with him going, I think you bring [Wharton] in and you’ve got a player for the next seven, eight years that will be a starter.

"He’s got so much upside and potential in him. Even if he costs £85M-£100M or whatever else, you’re getting the player for the long-term."

A bold valuation. An even bolder suggestion about Mac Allister’s future. But it underlines a theme around Liverpool right now: what does the next version of this team look like?

Barcola, Salah and the search for goals

Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes one answer could arrive from Paris.

"He's played on the left for PSG," Smith said of Bradley Barcola. "He can play on the right, so it's not as if you would earmark him as a like-for-like replacement for Mohamed Salah.

"But it looks like he's going to move if PSG can accept a fee. It seems to be between Liverpool and Arsenal. He's a talented player; we saw that in the World Cup. He'd be a great signing for Liverpool."

Smith, speaking to Liverpool.com on behalf of Best Betting Sites, didn’t dodge the central issue. Replacing Salah’s numbers.

"With Salah going, a like-for-like replacement in terms of goal output is a priority."

Then came the twist. Smith floated internal solutions elsewhere to ease the blow.

"But the thing is, with Alexander Isak back fit, Hugo Ekitike is going to be out for a few months, but Isak got himself a goal the other day in pre-season, so he's well capable of getting 20 plus league goals.

"So that might be an answer for them with Salah going. And Florian Wirtz, second season, he can chip in, get well into double figures. But I'd still think that they'll be after a striker or an attacking player."

The names are flying. The reality is simple: Liverpool cannot afford to misjudge the post-Salah landscape.

Alexander-Arnold squeezed by Dumfries arrival

At the back, there is another selection storm brewing around Trent Alexander-Arnold.

With Denzel Dumfries now at Real Madrid, the England international faces fierce competition for minutes at right-back this season. Reports in Spain have suggested José Mourinho could push Alexander-Arnold into midfield, though that area of the pitch is already crowded with options.

One thing isn’t in doubt: his talent.

He is too good not to be on the pitch. Somewhere. Somehow. And over a long, gruelling season, there will be more than enough minutes to test every possible role.

Gerrard’s call that helped shape an era

Amid all the speculation, Steven Gerrard has lifted the lid on a phone call that helped define Liverpool’s recent past.

Virgil van Dijk, back in 2017, had a choice: Liverpool or Manchester City.

"He phoned me at the time, actually," Gerrard revealed. "I knew his agent really well. It was City, Liverpool.

"He said to me, ‘I haven’t phoned you to sort of push me one way or the other, because I know which way you’re going to push me. But just tell me a little bit about Liverpool?’

"I just said to him, ‘Look, if it’s about what the clubs stand for and what the clubs are about, you’re wasting your time because I think you already know the answer to that.’

"It was an interesting conversation and I was so happy that he chose us."

That decision changed the trajectory of a club. Liverpool now face another era-defining set of calls, this time across the squad rather than at its heart.

“Gerrard-esque” McTominay backed for Anfield

One of the more eye-catching suggestions has come from former Manchester United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen. He believes Scott McTominay, now at Napoli, would be a fit for Anfield.

"McTominay has Gerrard-esque qualities and would suit Liverpool, he's one of those midfielders that can get you goals, now how many of those midfielders are around today?" Meulensteen told Tipman Tips.

"He brings physicality, energy, drive, braveness, courage, goals, and makes good box runs.

"I've been very impressed with him since he left United because that could have easily been the start of his career fizzling out. But with Scott it’s the total opposite, he has bloomed and come to life."

From Wharton to McTominay, the midfield debate refuses to quieten. The profiles differ, the message doesn’t: Liverpool’s engine room is still being reimagined.

Behind closed doors, plans in motion

While the noise around transfers grows, the work on the pitch continues in quieter surroundings.

Liverpool’s behind-closed-doors clash with Como this weekend has been brought forward by 30 minutes. The first game of the day will now kick off at 11.30am (UK time), instead of midday. The later fixture, open to supporters, remains a 6pm (UK time) start.

No fans will be inside for the early match, but it will be streamed on the club’s official channels.

Away from the transfer talk, that is where the real answers will start to emerge. Who fits where? Who looks ready? And which of these big ideas about Liverpool’s future will actually survive contact with the pitch?