Liverpool have ‘obvious’ gaps to address

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 23, 2026

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has confirmed the club's urgent need to strengthen their squad, particularly by adding a winger, following the departures of key players Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate, as well as ongoing injury concerns. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s owners are in early talks with investor Amit Bhatia about a potential minority stake worth over $6 billion, signaling possible changes in the club's ownership structure.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has acknowledged that the club needs to strengthen certain areas of its squad during the current transfer window following the departure of several key players and ongoing injury issues.

The Premier League team has already signed defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz ahead of the new season. However, the exits of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate, combined with injuries to Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni, have left Liverpool with notable gaps, particularly in experience and attacking options.

During a media conference in Chicago, Iraola highlighted the urgent need to recruit a winger, describing it as an "obvious" priority. While he did not specify the number of additional signings required, he emphasized the importance of assessing potential recruits based on market availability, costs, and the existing squad's capabilities. "We have some tricky positions where we have injured players that we trust, but it’s still not the ideal situation," Iraola noted.

The club has been linked with several attacking players, including RB Leipzig's Ivorian forward Yan Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, as potential targets to bolster Liverpool’s wide options.

The loss of veteran players Salah, Konate, and vice-captain Robertson has also reduced the team's leadership core. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, whose contract situation remains uncertain, is viewed by Iraola as a key figure in helping integrate new and younger players. “We need the references like Virgil van Dijk, like Alisson, like Joe Gomez, players that have been here for a long time,” he said.

Liverpool will kick off their pre-season preparations with a friendly against Sunderland in Nashville on July 25, followed by matches against Wrexham, Leeds United, AS Monaco, and Como. The team’s first Premier League fixture of the season is scheduled for August 23, when they travel to Newcastle United.

In separate developments, Liverpool’s owners, US-based Fenway Sports Group (FSG), have confirmed they are in talks with British-Indian investor Amit Bhatia regarding a potential minority stake in the club. Bhatia, who leads a consortium and is the son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, is reportedly considering an offer that could value Liverpool at more than $6 billion. The discussions are at an early stage, and no agreement has been finalized.

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