Liverpool officially confirmed the signing of Bradley Barcola from PSG on Monday, with Premier League clubs allowed to make transfers until 11pm UK time (6pm ET)
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
Such is the nature of the transfer market, the confirmation of Bradley Barcola's arrival at Liverpool was — in some quarters — swiftly followed by a sense of 'What's next?'.
French superstar Barcola, the primary target for the Reds this summer, comes in for a fee that could reach $166 million (£123 million), including add-ons, and represents a massive coup. That puts his valuation in between the deals for Florian Wirtz ($157 million/£116 million) and Alexander Isak ($169 million/£125 million) that went through last summer.
But when Mohamed Salah confirmed that he would be leaving in March, a new right wing signing appeared to be a must. That was why Liverpool was willing to offer RB Leipzig a package worth around $115 million (£85 million) for Yan Diomande in mid-June, only for the Ivorian to opt for Real Madrid instead.
More recently, it has seen two bids turned down for the Brighton forward Yankuba Minteh, and found Crystal Palace desperate to keep Ismaila Sarr, the 28-year-old Senegal star.
Ibrahim Mbaye was considered at one stage, as well, though he appears to be heading for Aston Villa. And with none having come in, some existing players might have to fill the void for the time being.
Cody Gakpo — more on him shortly — started on the right-hand side last weekend against Nottingham Forest, while Victor Munoz impressed (and scored) in that game too.
That duo can play off the right, with Barcola and Rio Ngumoha appearing likely to be the left-sided options. But that would, should no one else arrive, leave Liverpool looking light.
Bradley Barcola is unveiled as a new Liverpool player.
Bradley Barcola is unveiled as a new Liverpool player.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
With Hugo Ekitike still set for a number of months on the sidelines, Isak is the only number nine. Others can fill in there, but they are not natural central players, and having to do so for a sustained period of time would leave the wide areas looking threadbare.
Gakpo, who can play as a striker, is now widely reported to be staying put despite strong interest from both Tottenham and Manchester City, but he can't do two roles at once, so the other options out wide will need to stay fit.
Looking further into the future, Liverpool is hopeful of tying up transfer moves for two 18-year-old talents in moves that came somewhat out of the blue on Monday.
Lucca Brughmans, the teenage goalkeeping talent from Genk, and Djylian N'Guessan, an exciting forward currently at Saint Etienne, would be arrivals in the summer of 2027, rather than now, assuming those deals are successfully tied up.
Brughmans could potentially help replace Alisson Becker next summer, when the Brazilian's contract expires, while N'Guessan is a French youth international who starred at last year's U20 World Cup.
Later on Monday, Trey Nyoni, The Times and others have reported, was the subject of a $41 million (£30 million) bid from Nottingham Forest, but that was simply never going to be entertained. The 19-year-old is a big part of the Reds' plans. Any major outgoings at this stage would only come on Liverpool's terms and with a proper replacement.
Content Image
Content Image
Stefan Bajcetic has sealed a permanent exit to Celta Vigo after an injury-ravaged two years, while Harvey Elliott looks to be heading to Valencia and desperately needs a season that includes more game time than the last.
But Lewis Koumas is set to stay and help bolster the forward line, even though it is unlikely that he gets many starts in the Premier League and the Champions League. The Wales international should be eyeing the visit of Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.
Has Liverpool done enough? Only time will tell. Could something else happen from nowhere on deadline day? We don't have long to wait to find out.
Clarity over the future of sporting director Richard Hughes needs to arrive shortly, and it won't be long before the contract situations of Virgil van Dijk and others come into view too. The window may soon be over, but the work on the Liverpool roster never stops.
Liverpool ins so far this summer: Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz, Ronald Araujo, Bradley Barcola.
Liverpool outs so far this summer: Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones.