Iraola Hints at Gakpo Exit as Liverpool Nears £120m Deal for Barcola
Andoni Iraola, Liverpool's manager, has admitted he cannot promise that Cody Gakpo will stay at Anfield past the summer transfer window. The Dutch forward has caught the attention of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City as the transfer deadline looms.
Since joining Liverpool in January 2023, Gakpo has netted 51 goals in 181 matches across all competitions. Tottenham has shown consistent interest throughout the summer, while Manchester City is reportedly keeping tabs on the 27-year-old. Meanwhile, Liverpool's pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain's rising star Bradley Barcola adds to speculation that Gakpo might leave.
Iraola's Comments on the Transfer Market
"When the market is open, you cannot guarantee anything with anyone. We don't know who will arrive. Cody is playing very well for us. He's been very good since he came from the World Cup. I'd like to know how the market finishes, but at the moment I don't know what's going to happen. I can smell who we're going to sign and what positions but experience shows you that if there's an opportunity on the last day, you think: If it's going to improve us, then let's take it."
Liverpool Closing in on Bradley Barcola
Liverpool looks set to land their main attacking target after reaching a preliminary agreement with PSG for Barcola. Negotiations made significant progress on Wednesday evening, with Liverpool ready to pay an initial fee exceeding £100 million. Including performance-based add-ons, the total could reach around £120 million.
Despite this progress, Iraola remained cautious when asked about Barcola's arrival. He stated, "You know that we are trying to sign in this position and you know we cannot talk about players who right now are not ours. We are trying to fill that position as right now we don't have the numbers. I hope to have good news soon but we are still not there."
Potential Midfield Reinforcements Still Possible
The recent 2-2 draw against Newcastle United sparked discussion about Liverpool's squad depth. The summer transfer window has seen only three arrivals: Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, Victor Munoz from Osasuna, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Wien. Meanwhile, Curtis Jones left for Inter.
Iraola addressed the possibility of further signings, saying, "Ideally is the magic word. There are certain things you can do and certain things you don't know if you can do. It's true that the priority has been to strengthen the wide areas. I'm sure if we can improve other areas then we will. But I don't know how the market is going to finish. I have to be patient, the same as you. It's uncomfortable for me because we're dealing with uncertainties. In four or five days then we can make proper plans. On September 1, we will know the options that we have."
Squad Rotations and Player Status
With the deadline near, questions remain about the status of Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott, both left out of the squad against Newcastle. Chiesa is recovering from a minor muscle injury, while Elliott faces competition for game time under the current management.
"Different circumstances," the manager explained. "Fede is not available, he felt something against Como. With Harvey, I can only choose 20. It's about finding the right balance on the bench. In Harvey's case, he's trying and improving every week but still I prefer other options. I decided to put James McConnell in the squad. This is a new week with new chances for everyone and they have to keep that mentality."
