Liverpool's Transfer Debates: Wharton, Salah, and McTominay

Liverpool’s summer debate is growing louder by the day, and most of the noise is coming from outside Anfield’s walls.

MacAnthony’s big Wharton call

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony, a lifelong Liverpool supporter, has nailed his colours to one midfield target: Adam Wharton.

"I'd love them to sign Wharton," he told talkSPORT, before turning the spotlight on one of Liverpool’s current mainstays. "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 didn’t stop there. He floated a bold reshuffle.

"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 huge fee, a long-term bet, and a blunt verdict on Mac Allister: it’s exactly the kind of opinion that stirs a fanbase already split on how radically this midfield should evolve.

Barcola, Salah and the search for goals

Out wide, the conversation turns to Mohamed Salah and what happens if — or when — he goes. Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes Liverpool could land something close to the ideal profile in Bradley Barcola.

"He's played on the left for PSG," Smith said. "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."

Speaking to Liverpool.com on behalf of Best Betting Sites, Smith underlined the scale of the task if Salah departs.

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

Then he widened the lens, pointing to other potential sources of goals.

"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 message is clear: even if creative solutions exist, Liverpool cannot duck the issue of replacing Salah’s numbers.

Trent, Dumfries and Mourinho’s puzzle

At the back, a different kind of selection headache is brewing. With Denzel Dumfries moving to Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold faces serious competition at right-back this season.

Reports in Spain have suggested José Mourinho could move him into midfield, a switch long discussed in England as well. Yet that area of the pitch is already crowded with options.

One thing isn’t in doubt: Liverpool’s vice-captain will not be short of minutes. He is too gifted, too influential on the ball, to be squeezed to the fringes. The only real question is where Mourinho decides his influence hurts opponents most.

Gerrard’s call that helped shape an era

While Liverpool weigh the next big defensive calls, Steven Gerrard has lifted the lid on one from the recent past. The former captain revealed the conversation he had with Virgil van Dijk in 2017, when the centre-back was choosing between Liverpool and Manchester City.

"He phoned me at the time, actually," Gerrard said. "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?’"

Gerrard’s answer was typically direct.

"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."

Van Dijk’s decision became one of the defining moments of the Klopp era. Gerrard’s story underlines how close that sliding door really was.

McTominay tipped for Anfield

In midfield, another surprising name has been thrown into the mix. Former Manchester United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen believes Liverpool should move for Scott McTominay, now at Napoli.

"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 profiles differ, but the theme is the same: power, legs, goals from deep. The kind of midfield that can carry Liverpool through a long season.

Quiet kick-off, loud scrutiny

Away from the transfer noise, Liverpool’s preparations continue. The behind-closed-doors clash with Como this weekend has been brought forward by half an hour, now kicking off at 11.30am (UK time) instead of midday. The later fixture, which will be played in front of supporters, remains a 6pm (UK time) start.

No fans will be inside for the first game, but it will be streamed on the club’s official channels. For Mourinho and his staff, it offers another controlled look at a squad in flux.

The questions, though, won’t be asked in private. With Salah’s future unresolved, Trent’s role under scrutiny and new names being thrown into the ring almost daily, how radically are Liverpool really prepared to reshape this team before the window slams shut?