It’s always the quiet international breaks isn’t it? One minute you’re looking at a squad ready for the new campaign under Andoni Iraola, and the next, the entire transfer market is shifting.
If you’ve been following the madness over the last 48 hours, you’ll know that Liverpool’s summer window has officially gone into pure chaos. Between a massive club-record arrival, a shock departure to a direct rival, and some proper sliding doors moments behind the scenes, here is the real story of how these frantic final days are panning out.
### The Bradley Barcola Breakthrough
Let’s start with the good news first. After chasing him all summer long, Richard Hughes finally got his man. France international Bradley Barcola is officially through the door from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal that could eventually surpass £120m.
At just 23, Barcola is an absolute talent, but there’s a slight catch that everyone on Merseyside is talking about: he loves to play off the left. With Mohamed Salah already long gone to Trabzonspor and Hugo Ekitike facing a lengthy spell out until 2027, bringing in a top-tier winger was essential. But Barcola’s arrival on the left flank immediately throws a massive wrench into Cody Gakpo’s future.
### The Secret Endrick Approach
Before things went completely haywire with Gakpo, Liverpool were actually trying to pull off one of the most ambitious moves of the entire window.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Reds quietly made a move for Real Madrid’s Endrick about three weeks ago. With our attacking options looking a bit light after Salah’s exit and mounting injuries, Liverpool tested the waters in Madrid to see if a permanent deal or even a clever loan move for the Brazilian teenager was on the table.
Endrick has been squeezed down the pecking order a bit at the Bernabéu with all their new arrivals, and he had a tough time under Xabi Alonso before his Lyon loan last season. But Real Madrid flat-out slammed the door shut, telling us a firm “no.” Endrick decided to stick it out and fight for his place under Jose Mourinho for now, though you have to wonder if we might revisit that one in January if his minutes don’t improve.
### Gakpo’s £85m Exit and the Sarr Chase
Which brings us to the biggest bombshell of the weekend. Cody Gakpo started and grabbed an assist in that frustrating 2–2 draw against Nottingham Forest at Anfield, but as it turns out, that was basically a farewell wave.
Gakpo has decided he wants out to secure regular minutes especially with Barcola arriving to take up his favored left-wing spot—and Manchester City have swooped in. We’re looking at an eye-watering £85 million package that will see him heading to the Etihad. It’s a bitter pill to swallow seeing a player of his quality walk straight to a direct title rival, but an £85m fee for a player slipping down the pecking order is tough for the board to turn down.
Naturally, that money is burning a hole in our pocket, and the scramble for a replacement is already happening in real-time. Crystal Palace’s Ismaïla Sarr has shot right to the top of the shortlist. Palace have slapped a massive £80m price tag on him and already knocked back our opening attempts, but with the Gakpo cash rolling in, Liverpool are actively preparing an improved bid to try and get this over the line before the clock strikes midnight.
### Can Iraola Pull It Together?
Back-to-back 2–2 draws against Newcastle and Forest have already shown that Iraola’s side is still a work in progress. The defense and midfield depth are looking a bit scary, especially with Curtis Jones gone and Stefan Bajcetic likely following him out the exit door.
Iraola admitted after the Forest game that he’s practically counting down the minutes until the window slams shut so he can finally work with a settled group. If Hughes can somehow land Sarr alongside Barcola and tidy up the squad’s loose ends, we might just look back at this chaotic few days as the ultimate masterclass. If not? Well, you know how ruthless Anfield can be when deadline day doesn’t go to plan.