It's been a summer dominated by transfer activity within the Premier League, with few deals really providing that real 'wow' factor. Liverpool, however, might have bucked the trend with Bradley Barcola.

Considering the protracted nature of this summer saga, it's almost gone under the radar that the Reds have plucked a two-time Champions League winner from Paris Saint-Germain, a player who was also part of a fearsome forward line at the World Cup with France.

He's young, exciting and a potential game-changer for Andoni Iraola's side. The Basque boss is going to love him at Anfield.

Iraola has already shown why he'll help Barcola explode

Look back to Iraola's fine work at Bournemouth, and it's clear to see what he can do with the wingers at his disposal, having overseen the remarkable rise of Antoine Semenyo on the south coast.

The Ghanaian earned his big-money move to Manchester City in January as a result, ending the campaign with 17 Premier League goals to his name.

In his absence, new man Rayan also made an immediate impression under Iraola's watch, the young Brazilian looking like such a force from either flank, given the freedom to express himself right from the off.

That should be music to the ears of Barcola, with even Iraola's early work at Liverpool providing reason to suggest that the Frenchman can flourish, having seen the club's brightest moments in recent weeks come from the flanks.

In Cody Gakpo's case, for instance, the Dutchman opened his account for the season away at St James' Park, before providing a stellar assist for Alexander Isak last time out.

As for Victor Munoz, meanwhile, the Spaniard won the decisive spot-kick against Newcastle United, while scoring that delightful effort on the turn against Nottingham Forest.

Considering Barcola can play on either side, there's no reason why he can't follow suit and become the latest winger to relish his chance under Iraola's watch.

Perhaps he won't be the only one.

How Liverpool could sign Barcola's new Ousmane Dembele

For both club and country, Barcola's best work has come in tandem with Ballon d'Or-winning sensation, Ousmane Dembele, the left-footer so deadly off the right or in a central role over recent years.

At PSG, in particular, the pair have made up arguably Europe's most fearsome forward line, with the additional duo of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue proving devastating in this spell of dominance under Luis Enrique.

Perhaps Iraola is looking to replicate something similar back on Merseyside, putting together a pool of wingers or forwards who can torment Premier League defences with their speed, dynamism and directness.

The expectation had been that with Gakpo set to stay, Barcola's arrival would be the end of the story, although journalist Ben Jacobs has suggested otherwise.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Jacobs revealed that despite the situation surrounding Gakpo having been resolved, Brighton and Hove Albion's Yankuba Minteh is still seemingly desperate to join before the window slams shut.

The Reds have already been knocked back in their attempts to sign the 22-year-old, with the Seagulls believed to have slapped an £80m price tag on him heading into the close of the window.

That might appear steep for a player who's scored and assisted just 19 goals in 73 games at the Amex, but there's a real talent there just waiting to explode.

Like Barcola's French colleague, Dembele, Minteh is another lightning-quick left-footer whose best work has often come off the right flank, albeit while also boasting the benefit of being able to operate in a central role if required.

Once on the books at Newcastle, the Gambian notably spent 2023/24 on loan at Arne Slot's Feyenoord, scoring and assisting 16 goals in that solitary year in Holland.

Even last term, he showcased just what an explosive, lethal asset he can be from the flanks, ranking in the top 7% of wingers in Europe's big five leagues for progressive carries made per 90, as well as in the top 3% for deep carries made per 90.

For comparison, Dembele enjoyed a remarkably similar record in that regard, ranking in the top 7% and the top 5% for those same two metrics, respectively, proving himself a dribbling force in Ligue 1.

Having a player like Minteh, in the mould of Dembele, wreaking havoc on the opposite flank or through the centre should not only vacate space for Barcola, but it should ease the reliance on him to be Iraola's major dribbling threat.

Indeed, after a season in which Liverpool's forward line felt a little stale in 2025/26, Minteh, alongside Barcola, could help breathe new life into the Anfield outfit.

PSG 2.0, anyone?