Liverpool knows it may have to wait to do its transfer business this summer, but Andoni Iraola will have to make some big calls as soon as he starts work on his squad
04:00, 17 Jun 2026
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 9: Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola during the Premier League match between Fulham and Bournemouth at Craven Cottage on May 9, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has plenty of issues to resolve when he arrives at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
A big summer lies ahead for Andoni Iraola as he takes over from Arne Slot, and in an ideal world, he probably wouldn’t have picked a World Cup year to take on the biggest job of his managerial career so far.
Before he even takes charge of his first training session, any Liverpool fan could give Iraola a list of problems he needs to sort out after such a disappointing final season under his predecessor.
It’s clear to see what might be top of the Reds’ own list, with Yan Diomande dominating the headlines, especially after his superb World Cup debut at the weekend. The teenager is clearly Liverpool’s primary target to replace Mohamed Salah, but there may still be a long wait before we know if he’ll be heading to Anfield.
The World Cup adds another layer of difficulty to what was already looking like a challenging transfer to pull off, with RB Leipzig determined to either keep its star attraction for at least another year, or squeeze every penny it can out of his suitors.
Liverpool knows it may have to bide its time this summer, having been in virtually the same position two years ago when Slot arrived. Not only is the World Cup in the way at the moment, but the new head coach hasn’t yet had a chance to properly look at his current squad.
The club is therefore accepting that most of its business is likely to come later in the window, giving Iraola time to assess his options. Unlike two years ago though, the new boss isn’t taking over a team coming off the back of a title challenge, and there are a lot more issues that he will have to address immediately before those transfers can start rolling through the door.
Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre
Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott's futures are up in the air this summer(Image: 2024 Liverpool FC)
Prime among those issues will be the future of Curtis Jones. The academy graduate looked to be growing frustrated with the lack of starts afforded to him under Slot, and with Inter Milan coming calling, and just a year remaining on his contract, Iraola needs to decide quickly whether the 25-year-old is going to be part of his plans.
That decision could have a huge impact on his subsequent transfer plans, especially with questions also being asked about Alexis Mac Allister’s future after a poor season for the Argentine. His place will also need to be assessed, given he has been an almost ever-present in the side since his arrival three years ago.
Federico Chiesa has already indicated that he will speak to Iraola about his future. The Italian looks a pretty good bet to be on the move after just nine starts in two years, but a change in leadership could yet present him with more opportunities.
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Then, there are the two returning loanees to throw into the mix. Slot didn’t seem all that keen on Harvey Elliott, but if Iraola thinks differently, that’s another option to cover in midfield and on the right wing.
The door might be open for Kostas Tsimikas as well now with Andy Robertson moving on. As brutal as it sounds, the Greek international is never going to be first-choice now at Anfield, but if he’s content to act as back-up to Milos Kerkez, that will again save Liverpool some money finding another left-back.
Finally, there is the question over the goalkeepers. Alisson Becker looks as though he will be staying, despite all the talk over a move to Juventus, although that in turn leaves questions over Giorgi Mamardashvili.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Alisson Becker, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on February 13, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Iraola will have a big call to make on his goalkeepers(Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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The Georgia international will have arrived expecting to become the No.1 goalkeeper sooner rather than later, and another season acting as backup won’t sound too appealing. By the same token, given Alisson’s injury record, it would be a big call to send Mamardashvili out on loan, as has been suggested in some reports.
Iraola won’t get long to make any of those decisions - next season’s Premier League fixtures will be released on Friday, underlining just how close we already are to the start of the new campaign.
He will have to make them quickly though. Liverpool is already taking a risk if it waits until after the World Cup to do its transfer business, and unlike Slot two years ago, there isn’t a title-winning squad lying in wait.