Liverpool has plenty of players facing a few key weeks in the summer transfer window, with decisions to be made on their future before the transfer market closes until January
Andoni Iraola manager / head coach of Liverpool during the during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco
Andoni Iraola has some key calls to make on his Liverpool roster in the coming days(Image: (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images))
Andoni Iraola still has some important decisions to make on his roster of players for the new season, with the transfer window entering its final two weeks.
Much of Liverpool's focus so far has been on incomings, with three arrivals so far in the senior team, as Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz, and Ronald Araujo have joined the side for the coming campaign. More are expected, with Bradley Barcola viewed as a top-priority target for the left wing, while Ibrahim Mbaye could also join on the right wing.
There have been a few outgoings too, with academy stars such as Amara Nallo, Calum Scanlon, and Armin Pesci having confirmed loan exits to continue picking up experience for the season.
There will be more to come, as Cody Gakpo has clear transfer interest from Tottenham, while Federico Chiesa has been linked with a potential exit and is considering his options.
Then there's the future of Lewis Koumas to consider. The Wales international spent last season on loan in the Championship, joining Birmingham City and then Hull City, the latter of which he earned promotion to the Premier League with via the playoffs.
Upon his return to Liverpool, Iraola has made use of him in preseason, starting the forward on the right wing for several friendly matches.
Koumas has impressed many in that spell, and considering the lack of options available to the head coach, there is a debate surrounding whether he stays or leaves in the final few weeks of the transfer window.
Lewis Koumas of Liverpool during the during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco
Lewis Koumas could stay and make an impact at Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images))
The Athletic reports that Liverpool is still deciding what to do with the 20-year-old, who could end up being part of the team moving forward.
Plenty of that decision could surround what Liverpool does in the final few weeks of the transfer market, though Koumas seems determined to make an impact if he does stay.
Speaking to the official club website earlier this month, the forward revealed the impact of featuring alongside the senior players in preseason, and how he is feeling ahead of the new campaign.
"It's always good and obviously I train with them every day, so it's always good to try to take bits of their game and put it into mine," he said.
It's the best I've ever felt physically, so I've just got to keep training. He [Iraola] is just encouraging me to just play my game, press, work hard and continue to try to adapt to how he wants us to play."
Whether he will now have the chance to implement that for Iraola and Liverpool remains to be seen, but there is a real chance he features against Newcastle at the weekend before a decision is made.