Iraola Supports Liverpool's Summer Signings Ahead of Barcola's Debut
Andoni Iraola has thrown his weight behind Liverpool’s summer business, insisting the squad is now his responsibility to shape rather than the club’s to keep reshuffling.
Liverpool made four major additions in the window, headlined by the £123m signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris St-Germain. The French winger is in line for his first appearance on Friday, when the Reds open their Premier League campaign against Ipswich Town.
“I’m very happy with all the signings,” Iraola said. “Now it is the moment for me and the players to develop what we have.”
No new right-back. No extra central midfielder. Those gaps have fuelled debate, but Iraola stood firm on the club’s approach.
“Do I want more signings? In the end, the club has decided those signings we have done are the ones that will improve our team, improve the positions,” he explained. “There were other options that we decided not to take for different reasons, sometimes sporting or economical. It didn’t make sense in the market for those moves.”
The rebuild has been carefully staggered. A £60m deal for centre-back Jeremy Jacquet was agreed back in January, before Iraola arrived, but the Frenchman only joined up with the squad this summer. Under the new head coach, Liverpool have moved for winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna for £34.5m and brought in Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona to bolster the defence.
One of the boldest calls came in midfield. Liverpool chose not to replace Curtis Jones after his £30m switch to Inter Milan, even though the academy graduate featured 49 times last season.
Iraola, though, believes he has enough in the middle of the pitch. Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo form his senior core, with youngster Trey Nyoni pushing from beneath.
“In midfield we have good numbers,” he said. “Now it’s a matter of getting the right calls from myself. I’m finding now the best combinations and we are going through a period where we will play a lot of games and we’ll have a chance to see the options we have and the combinations we have. It’s a matter of coaching.”
If the summer was about targeted additions, it was also about one key non-departure.
Manchester City tested Liverpool’s resolve with an £80m bid for Cody Gakpo. The answer was no. Firmly so.
“I’m glad to keep Cody Gakpo because he is a valuable player,” Iraola said.
Barcola arriving, Gakpo staying, and a coach openly embracing the pressure of “developing what we have” — Liverpool’s season will now reveal whether conviction in this trimmed, expensive core proves brave or reckless.
