Barcola joined Liverpool for £123m on the penultimate day of the transfer window but has not played a minute of football since the World Cup
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Andoni Iraola is set to throw Bradley Barcola straight into the Liverpool team for Friday’s trip to Ipswich following his £123m signing.
Liverpool made the statement acquisition of Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain on the penultimate day of the transfer window, culminating a summer-long saga surrounding the French winger.
An exit had been on the cards from PSG with Barcola not being included in any matchday squad this season, following zero minutes during pre-season.
Iraola, however, says Barcola is in a “good place” and did not rule out the 23-year-old starting at Portman Road, with the Spaniard still searching for his first win in the Reds dugout after two draws with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
Bradley Barcola is Liverpool’s newest signing and could feature against Ipswich (PA Wire)
"We are very happy with Bradley. He was our priority, let's say, to sign a very very good player in that position,” Iraola told a press conference.
"He has come with the right mentality. I liked from him that he wanted Liverpool a lot. He just wanted to come here and I think that is a good first sign and being the player that he is and the things that he has won.
"He has come with the willingness to help us. I am very happy with him and he trained well with us. If everything goes well in training today, he will definitely be available for tomorrow's game."
Asked whether he could feature in the starting line-up, Iraola added: “I see him in a good place. He has trained with us in the trainings. It’s true he hasn’t had minutes in pre-season but he has been training normal with the group.
“That’s a decision we have to make. I think he’s in a good place but we have to consider that he hasn’t had the minutes.”
Iraola also expressed his happiness at keeping Cody Gakpo after Liverpool rebuffed an approach from Manchester City for the Dutchman late in the window.
"Cody is a very smart player,” he said. “My relationship with him has been honest since the beginning. He has performed with us very well, in all the pre-season games, in all the games. He scored in the first game, assisted in the next one.
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"He was well aware of the situation in the market - we were constantly talking with each other. He has trained very well and I hope we keep him at the same level. He is in a good place, physically, mentally.
"I am glad to keep Cody because he is a valuable player."