Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola was speaking ahead of his side's trip to Ipswich Town on Friday night
Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo
Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo
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Andoni Iraola insists Bradley Barcola is ready to make his Liverpool debut on Friday night, while the Reds head coach says there is no issue with Cody Gakpo despite the transfer drama around the Dutchman.
Barcola completed his move to Anfield from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday in a deal which could rise to £123m, and at one point that looked as though it would hasten the departure of Gakpo.
The Dutchman, a Premier League title winner with the Reds, was on the verge of a move to Manchester City before the plug was pulled on the deal, and he will join Barcola in the squad to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
On the signing of Barcola, who is expected to primarily play on the left of Liverpool's attack but can also play on the right, Iraola said: "We are very happy with Bradley, it was our priority to sign a very very good player in those positions.
"He has come also with the right mentality. I like that he wanted Liverpool a lot. He wanted to come here. It's a good first sign, and being the player he is, he has come with the willingness to help us.
"He is playing well for us and if everything goes well in training today he will definitely be available for us tomorrow."
Elaborating on his potential to start at Portman Road, Iraola said: "Good question. I see him in a good place.
"He has trained for us, it's true he hasn't had minutes in pre-season. He has been training and it's a decision we have to make. But we have to consider he hasn't had minutes in pre-season games."
Despite the transfer talk around Gakpo, the Dutch international has started both Liverpool matches so far this season, scoring a goal against Newcastle and registering an assist for Alexander Isak against Nottingham Forest.
Iraola insists he's happy with his performances, and hinted he is likely to be involved at Ipswich.
"My relationship with Cody has been very honest from the beginning," he said. "He has played very well for us so far.
"He was always aware of the situation in the market, we were constantly talking, I hope we can keep him at the same level. He is in a good place physically and mentally and I'm very happy to pick him."
Gakpo started on the right of the attack against Forest, a largely unfamiliar position to him, but amid concerns that Liverpool have not replaced Mohamed Salah as a de facto right-winger, Iraola said he wants his attackers to be able to play both sides.
"We prefer at the end to have the best players rather than players specifically for that position," he said..
"I'm used at other teams to demand wingers to play on both sides. We've played with Rio (Ngumoha) and Cody now on the right, probably most of the wingers play on the left but I've seen them good on the right.
"Bradley (Barcola) is very open and can play on the left or the right. At Lyon he sometimes played on the right. It depends on the match-ups, but I'm happy with the wingers we have and we are going to be able to cope on the right."