Iraola Hints at Gakpo Exit as Liverpool Near Deal for Barcola
Andoni Iraola, Liverpool’s manager, admitted he cannot guarantee that Cody Gakpo will stay at Anfield beyond the summer transfer window. The Dutch forward has attracted strong interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City as the transfer deadline approaches.
Gakpo joined Liverpool in January 2023 and has since scored 51 goals in 181 appearances across all competitions. Throughout the summer, Tottenham has consistently pursued him, while Manchester City is reportedly keeping tabs on the 27-year-old attacker. Meanwhile, Liverpool are pushing to complete a club-record signing for Paris Saint-Germain’s rising star, Bradley Barcola. This potential signing increases the chances of Gakpo departing.
Iraola Addresses Transfer Speculation
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, Iraola said, "When the market is open, you cannot guarantee anything with anyone. We don’t know who will arrive. Cody is playing very well for us. He’s been very good since he came from the World Cup. I’d like to know how the market finishes, but at the moment I don’t know what’s going to happen. I can sense who we’re going to sign and what positions, but experience shows that if there’s an opportunity on the last day, you think: If it’s going to improve us, then let’s take it."
Liverpool Close to Signing Bradley Barcola
The Reds have made significant progress in securing Barcola, reaching an outline agreement with PSG. Liverpool are set to pay just over £100 million upfront, with the total potentially rising to around £120 million including add-ons tied to performance.
Despite nearing this breakthrough, Iraola remained cautious when asked about Barcola’s arrival: "You know we are trying to sign for this position and you know we cannot talk about players who right now are not ours. We are trying to fill that spot because currently we don’t have enough numbers. I hope to have good news soon but we are still not there."
Potential Midfield Additions
The 2-2 draw with Newcastle last weekend sparked debate among fans about squad depth. So far, Liverpool’s summer signings include Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, Victor Munoz from Osasuna, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Wien. Curtis Jones departed for Inter during this period.
Iraola commented on the possibility of further signings: "Ideally is the magic word. There are certain things you can do and certain things you don’t know if you can do. It’s true the priority has been strengthening the wide areas. I’m sure if we can improve other areas then we will. But I don’t know how the market is going to finish. I have to be patient, the same as you. It’s uncomfortable because we’re dealing with uncertainties. In four or five days then we can make proper plans. On September 1, we will know the options we have."
Squad Rotation and Player Status
With the transfer deadline nearing, questions linger over the futures of Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott. Both missed the squad for the Newcastle game. Chiesa is recovering from a minor muscle injury suffered in training, while Elliott faces stiff competition for playing time under Iraola’s management.
The manager explained, "Different circumstances. Fede is not available; he felt something against Como. With Harvey, I can only choose 20. It’s about finding the right balance on the bench. Harvey is trying and improving every week but I still prefer other options. I decided to include James McConnell in the squad. This is a new week with new chances for everyone and they have to keep that mentality."
- Match: Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
- Date: August 29, 2026
- Kick-off Time: 13:30
