LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo is challenged by Monaco's Lamine Camara (L) during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo is challenged by Monaco's Lamine Camara (L) during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Andoni Iraola is “very happy to keep” Cody Gakpo after “honest” talks throughout the transfer window and insists he is content with his options on the right wing.
Liverpool ended the summer by pulling out of a £80 million deal with Man City after deciding they could not adequately replace Gakpo.
The Dutchman had agreed to join Enzo Maresca’s side but talks over deals for Brighton‘s Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace‘s Ismaila Sarr proved difficult and, truthfully, neither were the ideal option.
Speaking for the first time since the transfer window closed, Iraola said: “Cody is a very smart player. My relationship with him has been very honest from the beginning.
“He has performed with us very well in all the pre-season games, he scored first day, assisted in the next one.
“He was always aware of the situation in the market, we were constantly talking with each other.
“He has trained very well and I hope we can keep him at the same level. I’m sure he’s like this.
“He’s in a good place physically, mentally. I’m very happy to keep Cody, because he’s a very valuable player, yes.”
Why Liverpool decided to not just sign ‘any’ right winger
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2026: Liverpool's Víctor Muñoz celebrates scoring his side's second equalising goal to level the score at 2-2 during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2026: Liverpool's Víctor Muñoz celebrates scoring his side's second equalising goal to level the score at 2-2 during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by Propaganda)
Even in keeping Gakpo and signing Bradley Barcola, Liverpool still do not have a natural right winger in their squad.
The head coach instead plans to use Gakpo and Victor Munoz as his principle options on the right while Barcola and Rio Ngumoha are more suited to the left – though all four will be called upon in both positions.
“I think we preferred in the end to have the best players [rather] than a player who maybe is specifically for that position,” Iraola said of the failure to sign a right winger.
“I’m very used, from my previous teams, to demand for all the wingers to play both sides.
“I know they normally have a preferred position, but we’ve been playing with Victor, with Cody, with Rio on the right side.
“Probably all of them played more on the left, but I would say I’ve seen them in a good place on the right.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola shakes hands with Rio Ngumoha as he is substituted during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola shakes hands with Rio Ngumoha as he is substituted during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“Rio is more specifically from the left side, but I think he has also showed the willingness to improve and play on the right.
“Even Bradley, I think he’s very open and can play right and left. He started actually more on the right side when he started with Lyon.
“And obviously it will depend on the matchups and what we can see from every game.
“I’m happy with the four wingers we have and I’m sure we are going to be able to cover those two positions, yes.”
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