LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 20, 2025: Liverpool's goalscorer Hugo Ekitike celebrating after the final whistle during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC at Anfield. The 247th Merseyside Derby. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 20, 2025: Liverpool's goalscorer Hugo Ekitike celebrating after the final whistle during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC at Anfield. The 247th Merseyside Derby. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are all set to travel with Liverpool for their pre-season tour in the United States despite their injuries.
Andoni Iraola will not be able to call upon any of Ekitike, Leoni or Bradley throughout their warmup games in America, but the trio will fly out nonetheless.
The Athletic‘s James Pearce reports that all three will be among the travelling group to Chicago on Monday and will continue their rehabilitation in the States.
It allows them to remain part of preparations at a crucial stage of the season, particularly as Iraola looks to make an imprint on his new squad.
Leoni is understood to be closest to making a return, having already resumed running on the outdoor pitches at the AXA Training Centre.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 23, 2025: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 23, 2025: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
But Liverpool’s medical staff remain cautious when it comes to the young centre-back, who required surgery after tearing his ACL on his debut for the club last September.
It means he has already missed 10 months of action and it is unclear if he will be passed fit in time for the start of the new campaign.
There will be less pressure on his comeback given new signing Jeremy Jacquet is fully fit despite undergoing shoulder surgery while still at Rennes in March.
Jacquet is likely to partner Joe Gomez at centre-back in the friendlies against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds, though Iraola is also expected to have youngsters Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye among his options.
Conor Bradley’s injury and Liverpool right-back plans
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 4, 2026: Liverpool's Conor Bradley, holding a Louis Vuitton wash-bag, arrives before the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 4, 2026: Liverpool's Conor Bradley, holding a Louis Vuitton wash-bag, arrives before the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Bradley is believed to be targeting a return to availability towards the start of the campaign proper, while Ekitike is reportedly hopeful of playing again by the end of 2026.
Iraola has repeatedly stressed that all three players will be important to his plans going forward, though he has also maintained that their focus is on the long term.
Liverpool are assessing a number of options in the market to solve their issues at right-back, with Jeremie Frimpong not likely to be considered as first choice due to his value as a utility player.
No concrete targets have been named at this stage, though journalist David Lynch has already ruled out Girona’s Arnau Martinez and Rayo Vallecano’s Andrei Ratiu.
Others tentatively linked such as Denzel Dumfries, Marco Palestra, Oscar Mingueza, Michael Kayode and Pedro Porro have all either joined other clubs or signed new contracts already this summer.
In the absence of Ekitike there will be an onus on Alexander Isak to perform to the standards expected upon his £125 million move from Newcastle last summer.
Isak will not be available for the start of the USA tour, however, with Iraola instead likely to be able to call upon Federico Chiesa and youngsters Will Wright and Josh Sonni-Lambie as No. 9 options.
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Spain v Argentina – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Final – New York New Jersey Stadium
Spain's Rodri lifts the FIFA World Cup Trophy following the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Argentina at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, as Donald Trump, President of the United States and FIFA President Gianni Infantino applaud. Victor Munoz. Picture date: Sunday July 19, 2026.
Elliott, Iraola, Liver Building collage
Elliott, Iraola, Liver Building collage