Liverpool is targeting Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye as summer window signings, while Andoni Iraola faces key decisions over the futures of Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones before the transfer deadline.
Andoni Iraola.
Andoni Iraola has work to do at Anfield(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has the opportunity to bring in two French wingers and face some difficult decisions regarding his squad before the transfer window shuts in just under a month.
The Reds have completed three signings to date, welcoming Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo to Anfield for a combined fee of £94.5 million ($127.7 million). However, the departures of Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate, coupled with Joe Gomez's injury, have placed Iraola in a challenging position.
Mohamed Salah has joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer, and supporters are eagerly calling for greater attacking depth to be added to the squad. Iraola has been candid about his transfer ambitions, confirming that a winger remains a top priority.
Speaking in July, the Liverpool manager said: "No, I think it's difficult to say a number when the market is open, and you have to be always open to new options to improve the squad. There are obvious situations that we know where we need to sign players. A winger, for example – we definitely need to sign a winger.
"But there are other situations that we will have to analyse what the market gives you, what's the cost, how we also see the players we have. We have some tricky positions where we have injured players that we trust but is still not the ideal situation. So, it will depend on a lot of things."
Here, the ECHO examines who the Reds could bring in, and who might ultimately be moved on, during the remainder of the window.
Bradley Barcola.
Bradley Barcola is the main target(Image: Franco Arland/Getty Images)
Bradley Barcola
Bradley Barcola is considered a target for Liverpool, though the club will likely need to splash a considerable sum to land him. The Echo understands that the Reds opened preliminary talks with the French international's representatives last month and received encouraging feedback regarding a potential switch to Anfield.
Nevertheless, Paris Saint-Germain's £145 million ($195.9 million) asking price remains a significant obstacle.
Ibrahim Mbaye
Liverpool are also assessing a potential swoop for PSG's Ibrahim Mbaye, who has been tipped to depart France this summer. The 18 year old made 30 appearances last season, making five goal contributions from just 11 starts.
Ibrahim Mbaye.
Ibrahim Mbaye is another PSG star Liverpool are keen on(Image: Bagu Blanco/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen had both expressed interest in the forward, but reports from France suggest he would favour a move to Anfield over other options. Liverpool's interest in the Senegal international is understood to be entirely separate from their pursuit of his current club teammate Barcola.
The winger, who predominantly operates on the right flank, is reportedly valued at between £34.2M ($46.2M) and £43M ($58M) and would represent an affordable yet effective option in a position the Reds are desperately seeking to strengthen.
Harvey Elliott
Harvey Elliott has returned to Liverpool following a difficult year on loan at Aston Villa, where he struggled for game time. The midfielder accumulated just 277 minutes across all competitions for the Birmingham club, after Villa opted against triggering the £35M ($47.M) release clause that would have been activated had Elliott made 10 appearances during his temporary stint.
The 23-year-old is eager to move past this year and demonstrate enough to Iraola to secure his place in the squad this season. Following the Wrexham victory in July, Elliott said: "I wanted to kind of go and explore something, come out of my comfort zone, that I thought personally that would take me on as a player again.
"Unfortunately, it didn't work out, but the way I see it is, that's last season now I'm here. It's kind of a second chance, if you want to call it. Especially with the gaffer and new coaching staff coming in. It's another chance to impress, and hopefully get in their (good) books."
Harvey Elliott.
Harvey Elliott has had a tough year(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Ideally, the Reds would prefer to retain Elliott at the club and give him the opportunity to develop under the new manager. However, with less than 12 months remaining on his current Liverpool contract, the club's decision-makers will be anxious to prevent a repeat of the situations that emerged with Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold recently.
Should Iraola conclude that Elliott is unlikely to be a regular fixture and a contract extension isn't forthcoming, the Reds may believe that the most sensible course of action would be to accept their losses and secure a transfer fee now rather than risk losing the gifted player on a free transfer next summer. Reports indicate that Leeds have shown interest in the midfielder, though no formal approach has been made regarding a potential move.
Curtis Jones.
Curtis Jones is another current star who could leave(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Curtis Jones
Curtis Jones finds himself in a comparable position to Elliott, faced with the choice of remaining at his boyhood club or seeking a fresh challenge elsewhere. Inter Milan have expressed a strong interest in the midfielder and are prepared to pay £30M ($40.5M) for the 25-year-old.
Jones' absence from the squad against Monaco raised a few eyebrows, though Iraola was quick to clarify that it was down to an injury rather than transfer speculation. He said: "Curtis has trained every day, but yesterday (Saturday) he finished with some issues in the hip, but nothing big. It didn't make any sense to risk him."
The midfielder is entering the final year of his contract at Anfield, and while a significant portion of the fanbase would prefer Jones to remain, he could well be on his way should Inter meet Liverpool's valuation. The situation mirrors that of Elliott, where the prospect of losing a player for nothing — as was the case with Konate and Robertson — would likely make a sale the more attractive option if agreeing on a new deal proves unworkable.