Liverpool return for pre-season in less than a week and all eyes will be on the first glimpses of Andoni Iraola’s plans for the squad ahead of the new season.
The Reds have had a frustrating and disappointing 12 months following their Premier League title victory, and the former AFC Bournemouth boss will be under pressure to renew optimism at Anfield.
The summer transfer window will give the club an opportunity to provide the new Liverpool head coach with the tools he needs to execute his high-energy football on the red side of Merseyside.
What transfer business has Liverpool done so far?
Liverpool confirmed the signing of Spain and Osasuna winger Victor Munoz last month after beating Newcastle United to his signature, and he joins the squad as a promising talent to be developed.
On 1 July, the Reds confirmed the signing of Jeremy Jacquet in a £60m move from Stade Rennais.
Following Ibrahima Konate’s move to Real Madrid, Jacquet is expected to become a consistent feature in Liverpool’s back line this season.
The 20-year-old Frenchman spoke to LiverpoolFC.com about his excitement ahead of the new season:
“I feel really good, the first impressions are good and I am very happy to start here.
“I am very happy. When I see the facilities, I can see myself there. I feel good here and I am very excited to get started.
“For me it’s a big dream, it’s a big club. A club like Liverpool, it’s a big dream for me.”
What’s the latest Liverpool transfer news?
While supporters will be more focused on the incomings this summer, the number of outgoings will be hard to ignore.
Liverpool have already parted ways with Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Konate this month, leaving a gaping hole in both experience and leadership, both in the dressing room and on the pitch.
Despite that, there are still plenty of players with their futures up in the air, with Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott consistently being linked with moves away from Merseyside this summer.
Jones, in particular, has attracted interest from Nottingham Forest, which could only intensify following the sale of midfielder Elliot Anderson to Manchester City.
Speaking to talkSPORT, former Forest ace James Perch gave his insight into their interest in the Liverpool midfielder:
“To try and replace Elliot Anderson and what he does is going to be very hard.
“I’d say it’s probably going to take two players to cover what he does because he does so much for Forest in that midfield. But the obvious one, I think, would be Curtis Jones.
“I think he’s proven. He’s an England international, so you’re not taking a gamble on him and hoping he hits the ground running.
“Hopefully, with his experience and all the games he’s played for Liverpool, he will just walk straight into the team and almost kick on from where Elliot Anderson left off.”
Will Liverpool sell Curtis Jones?
The Reds have already knocked back several offers for Jones over the last six months, with Internazionale keen to loan the midfielder in January before making a £21m bid to sign him permanently last month.
It is reported that Liverpool want £40m to part ways with their academy graduate this summer, and Forest continue to be linked with a potential move.
The Merseyside giants are renowned for their strict transfer policies and business model, so they are unlikely to back down on their asking price for their 25-year-old ace, who was once hailed as “fearless” by BBC Sport pundit Micah Richards.
Ultimately, Liverpool’s transfer business over the coming weeks will shape the first chapter of the Iraola era, but pre-season could prove just as important for those already at the club.
With places up for grabs and a new head coach assessing his squad, players like Jones have the opportunity to prove they can play a key role in the Reds’ rebuild.
Whether Liverpool decide to cash in on Jones or hand him a fresh opportunity could become one of the defining decisions of the summer, but the coming weeks should provide the clearest indication yet of where his future lies.