​When Liverpool signed Victor Muñoz from Osasuna, it was clear from the outset that he would be part of a two-pronged wing signing plan, with the Reds still expected to land a major player to replace Mohamed Salah as he approaches departure. Among the names linked to the club, Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola stood out as the two €100 million favourites. However, Diomande’ s allegiance never lay with Liverpool for long; he appeared to be merely using the Anfield pursuit to chase his real objective, a move to Paris Saint‑Germain. With Diomande now appearing likely to stay at RB Leipzig, PSG’s willingness to sanction Barcola’s sale looks ever more uncertain. That combination effectively leaves Liverpool without a clearly defined top-wing target.
Some Liverpool supporters, predicting this outcome early on, argued that the club would, as it has done before, pivot away from chasing marquee signings and instead insist that the squad can be good enough with what they already have. Those voices may have a point this time, given that The Echo’s Paul Gorst floated the possibility that Liverpool could already possess a Salah replacement in 17-year-old winger Rio Ngunoha. The report suggests the club is considering promoting Ngunoha to the right wing as their first-choice option and Salah successor, a plan that would be controversial given his age and inexperience at elite level.
The club’s current attacking framework was already stretched to breaking point in the 2025-26 campaign. Last summer’s exits of winger Luis Díaz and striker Darwin Núñez, coupled with the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, left Liverpool alarmingly light in attacking options. By season’s end, the narrative inside the club had shifted toward acquiring two elite wingers—both to plug the immediate void and to guard against Salah’s impending departure. In this context, replacing Salah in kind with Muñoz alone—without addressing the wider gaps introduced by last summer’s recruitment missteps under sporting director Julian Hughes—would be a strategic misstep, especially if the club is counting on a 17-year-old to deliver at an elite level.
The fear among supporters is that this is more than mere speculation. If a top-tier winger does not arrive soon, Liverpool could head into the 2026-27 season with an undersubscribed attack and a squad that looks less formidable than last year’s. The timing is urgently critical, with pre-season approaching and only Muñoz officially added to a squad that still has several notable gaps. The potential consequence is that Hughes and the recruitment team will be judged on whether the club can salvage something meaningful in the transfer window or whether a string of missteps will leave Liverpool exposed.
There remains some potential coverage for the club’s options beyond the obvious wingers. Jeremie Frimpong is still on the books, though his small frame and inconsistent form at right-back have limited his effectiveness in that role. If a top-level winger fails to arrive, Liverpool could even consider deploying Frimpong further forward as a wide option in an attacking lineup. However, doing so would represent a significant shift in how the squad is balanced and would carry its own risks, particularly in terms of defensive stability and squad depth.
For Liverpool, the bottom line remains clear: the club needs to secure a true top-class winger who can immediately contribute and help bridge the gap created by Salah’s likely departure. Without that upgrade, even the addition of Muñoz may not be enough to sustain the club’s attacking prowess. The season ahead will test the recruitment strategy under sporting director Richard Hughes and his team. Fans will be hoping that the ongoing chatter around Ngunoha proves to be nothing more than speculation, and that the club can deliver a bona fide elite winger to complement Muñoz and the rest of the attack. Until then, the question remains: can Liverpool salvage their transfer window, or will they face a harsher reality as the squad preparation continues into 2026-27 with unresolved attacking shortcomings?