REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Liverpool have had an unbeaten start to their 2026/27 season so far, and Andoni Iraola has finally begun to start figuring out who he can and cannot trust in his squad.
The Reds have won two of their opening five Premier League games, with three draws, while they have also won their opening Champions League game against Atletico Madrid, and defeated Tottenham in the EFL Cup to progress to the fourth round.
But the Spanish manager has clearly taken his time to decide what his best team is, and has already made some big decisions based on early-campaign performances.
Florian Wirtz has somehow kept his spot as the starting number ten despite his early struggles, while Alexander Isak and Victor Munoz have cemented their spots in the attack.
In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch has seemingly lost his spot, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Trey Nyoni all impressing in their performances, while in defence, Jeremy Jacquet has made himself first-choice alongside Virgil Van Dijk in defence.
But alongside them, the right-back position has come up for grabs. Jeremie Frimpong has struggled to find his Bayer Leverkusen form since moving to the Premier League, and now Iraola has begun to select Barcelona loanee Ronald Araujo ahead of him.
That shows that there is a clear appetite to improve in that position in 2027, and Caught Offside now report that Brentford star Michael Kayode has emerged as their top priority transfer target.
The full-back has been in excellent form for the Bees in recent seasons, and recently made his full Italy debut during the current international break, scoring on his debut in a 4-1 win over Turkey last week in the UEFA Nations League.
His all-action style, athleticism, and powerful running have made him one of the top right-back options in the Premier League, and Liverpool are understood to have put him at the top of their shortlist for 2027. They will face competition for his signature, however, with Arsenal, Tottenham, Juventus, and Newcastle United all also keen.
Kayode signed a new deal with Brentford this summer, tying him down to the G-Tech Stadium until 2032, but Brentford are known to be a club open to sales for the right price. It's reported that the magic number would be around £60m.
Kayode is a Frimpong Upgrade
Reuters/Chris Radburn
When Frimpong arrived at Anfield he was considered to be one of the top right wing-back prospects in Europe, but his performances haven't matched that expectation.
Physically, he has struggled with the pace and physicality of the league, while he has also suffered with a number of injury issues. Kayode is very similar to the Netherlands international stylistically, but he has the durability to become a genuine long-term option for Liverpool.
The 22-year-old's former coach has revealed that the youngster was 'special' from a young age, and has heaped praise on him.
"I knew he was special after minutes. Now he must learn to slow down," he said.
"Technique, for a start, which is now at a good level. And tactical discipline, which still needs to improve. I think he can grow in his ability to manage moments: he's a wide player who is always keen to go forward, to push, but there are times when you need to slow down."
Iraola loves his flying full-backs, as seen with Milos Kerkez, and Kayode would be the perfect upgrade on Frimpong, while also giving the manager exactly what he wants for his squad.
Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola