Liverpool is closing in on the blockbuster signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain and Andoni Iraola was asked about the move in his pre-match press conference
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool press conference.
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool press conference.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola unsurprisingly remained coy when he was asked about Liverpool's transfer pursuit of Bradley Barcola.
The France international has been Liverpool's top summer target as Iraola bids to replace Mohamed Salah following his departure but the Reds had failed to agree a fee with Paris Saint-Germain.
Reports emerged on Thursday that the two clubs had now struck a deal for Barcola, with Liverpool paying $136 million (£100m) up front, plus a further $27M (£20m) in add-ons.
Liverpool.com understands that while a deal is close to being finalized between the two clubs, there is not yet an agreement in place.
Iraola faced the media a few hours after the news broke ahead of his side's game with Nottingham Forest this weekend and did not give too much away.
Asked about the deal getting done, he said: "We are trying to sign in that position. We cannot talk about players who are not ours.
"It is no secret that we are trying to improve to fill those positions because we don't have the numbers. I hope we can have good news but we are not there yet.
"I don’t know what’s going to happen. We have to patient. I will be comfortable on September 2. Right now, we don’t know. I have in my head what I want, we spoke since the beginning what we want. It’s a matter of closing the deal.”
Bradley Barcola is close to joining Liverpool
Bradley Barcola is close to joining Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool welcomes Forest to Anfield after an opening weekend draw with Newcastle, thanks to a late penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai.
Both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak found themselves under scrutiny after that game and will be eager to impress in a fixture that Liverpool lost 3-0 last season.
While preparations for that game will be the focus for Liverpool, it does appear that there will be more business done in the final week of the window.
Liverpool has seen two bids rejected for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, while Crystal Palace have also rebuffed an approach for Ismaila Sarr, with another winger on the radar after Barcola.
Any potential arrival could open the door for Cody Gakpo to leave the club, with Manchester City and Tottenham both interested.