Conor Bradley is still a “way off” from returning for Liverpool, which has seen Andoni Iraola inherit a “tricky situation” at right-back heading into the new season.
Bradley sustained a significant knee injury at Arsenal in January, and Liverpool have been attempting to address his absence ever since.
First, midfielders were tasked with stepping in at full-back at the end of last season, and the summer now presents an opportunity to find a solution in the transfer market.
While reports previously stated Bradley was “targeting a return shortly after the start of the season,” Iraola told reporters on Tuesday that he is still “months” away.
He explained Bradley and Hugo Ekitike (Achilles) are “still way off” from returning, adding: “We are talking about months, and still a lot of time out.”
Liverpool could look to a versatile defender, with Iraola admitting centre-back ranks are also thin, to address their immediate needs with Bradley still remaining the club’s “long-term” right-back.
“I think it depends on Conor’s situation,” Iraola said after being asked whether Bradley’s injury would be addressed in the market or internally.
“At the end, if you have a fully fit, healthy Conor Bradley, we are very happy, ready to go, and we would not be asking ourselves these questions.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Thursday, January 8, 2026: Liverpool's Conor Bradley receives treatment during the FA Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Thursday, January 8, 2026: Liverpool's Conor Bradley receives treatment during the FA Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“I think it is a situation that is tricky because we trust Conor in the long term, we know we want him to be our right-back.
“But right now, he’s still, I would say, a little bit far from returning. So with the centre-back, with the right-back situations, in terms of defensive depth, we are, I think, very thin right now.
“So I think it’s a solution that we are trying to find, yes.”
Liverpool injury latest: Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic & Giovanni Leoni
CHICAGO, USA - Monday, July 20, 2026: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni arrives in Chicago ahead of the start of the club's pre-season tour of America. The team play friendly games in Nashville, New York and Chicago as they prepare for the start of the new 2026/27 Premier League season. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Monday, July 20, 2026: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni arrives in Chicago ahead of the start of the club's pre-season tour of America. The team play friendly games in Nashville, New York and Chicago as they prepare for the start of the new 2026/27 Premier League season. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
As for Liverpool’s other injuries, Iraola offered a promising update on Stefan Bajcetic and Wataru Endo, with the pair expected to join parts of training throughout the tour.
Giovanni Leoni, who is towards the end of his ACL recovery, is then next in line to return, but there is still a “wait” until he is fully ready.
“Yes, right now we have different situations in terms of injuries. The three that you said, that are like big, big injuries, that are taking them months to recover.
“And then apart from those three, we have Stefan and Wataru that are close to training with the group, they will start in this tour, training not fully, maybe, but partially with the group.
“With the others, [we] will have to wait more. In terms of order, I think the closest one to return is Leoni. After [that] will be Conor and Hugo, but especially the last two, are still way off.
“We are talking about months, and still a lot of time out.”
Football – Pre-Seaosn – Liverpool USA Tour Day 2
CHICAGO, USA - Tuesday, July 21, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during a press conference at the Endeavor Health Performance Center in Chicago ahead of the start of the club's pre-season tour of America. The team play friendly games in Nashville, New York and Chicago as they prepare for the start of the new 2026/27 Premier League season. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Collage 3 diagonal (12)
Collage 3 diagonal (12)
Football – UEFA Champions League – Quarter-Final – 1st Leg – Paris Saint-Germain FC v Liverpool FC
Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - 1st Leg - Paris Saint-Germain FC v Liverpool FC