Andoni Iraola has refused to rule out the possibility of incomings and outgoings at Liverpool in the final few days of the transfer window.
The summer market will conclude at 11pm next Tuesday, giving Premier League clubs only five more days in which to do business before the next window in January.
The Reds have added just three new first-team players so far (including the on-loan Ronald Araujo), although they’ve reportedly agreed a deal in principle to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.
In terms of potential exits from Anfield, Cody Gakpo continues to be linked with a late summer move to Tottenham Hotspur, while squad players such as Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliot could viably depart also.
Iraola not ruling out last-minute moves at Liverpool
Iraola spoke to the media this afternoon ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, and he was inevitably asked about the club’s transfer plans between now and the Tuesday deadline.
He outlined (via Liverpool Echo): “Our players, I cannot guarantee anything about how many we are going to sign or whatever. Experience tells us that if there’s an opportunity the last day you can do something.”
He added: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. Even I have to be patient. Then we get to 2nd September – this is who we have and the options we have; then we can start thinking.
“For now we don’t know. I have in my head what I want. We’ve been talking since the beginning with the club; they know what we want. It’s about closing the deals.”
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Expect quite a bit of activity at Liverpool in the next few days
The final few days of the summer transfer window are a bit like Christmas shopping – after weeks of inactivity, there’s often a manic dash to the finish line as shoppers (in this case, football clubs) rush to buy whatever they can before the market shuts.
Go back 12 months and it was a crazy deadline day for Liverpool, who had a move for Marc Guehi sewn up before Crystal Palace pulled the rug from under them at the 11th hour, and even then we still had time to complete a club-record deal for Alexander Isak.
We’d be shocked if there aren’t any further incomings or outgoings between now and 11pm next Tuesday, with Barcola’s arrival seemingly imminent and another winger potentially being recruited, although fans’ clamour for a defensive midfielder is most understandable.
In terms of players who could leave Anfield, will Gakpo still be a Red by Wednesday morning? Might Chiesa and/or Elliott seek pastures new?
There could even be a transfer which pops out of nowhere to suddenly get done before the deadline. All we can say with conviction is that these next five days won’t be dull for Iraola, Liverpool fans and recruitment staff!
Shouldn’t have got to this so late in the transfer window to get players in , Richard Hughes and FSG have had over nine weeks.
Unless these positions are strengthened the season is over before it starts.
Righ back.
Can’t rely on frimpong not good enough
Gomez always injured
Araujo not ideal for central defender right back
Defensive midfielder
The Newcastle game was the proof what we need all throughout last season as well.
Should have been the number one priority it’s been overlooked for far too long.
Striker
Who knows what we are getting from Isak, you can guarantee he will miss games through injuries.
You cannot expect to compete at the top with our current squad. We are just making up the numbers, and getting champions league next season is the only Ambition.
Go and look at Arsenal and Manchester city squads.
100% Agree. Hughes and Edwards have been sitting with their thumbs in their sphincters. Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City have been active. 9 weeks of focussing on Diomande and Barcola.
Klopp was right in being manager and not just coach. Edwards has not left LFC in a better place. Absolute oxygen thief.
With their connections to Bournemouth we should have had Scott 2 months ago. NOW all of a sudden we need 3 new signings. WTF have you been doing for the last 2 months. SPITTING MAD!!!!
True talk, from my opinion barcola can play AM,but we need RB,RW,LB,TWO DM if possible but mr richard can not sign rb again we need experience RB AND LB