Liverpool have secured Victor Munoz as Andoni Iraola's first signing and swiftly shifted focus to target Yan Diomande. Should the Ivory Coast international's signing be confirmed, the Reds need to look to bring in Ayyoub Bouaddi next.
The Anfield outfit are determined to bounce back next season following a disappointing campaign under Arne Slot, with significant investment in the squad expected this summer. Last year, the Dutch coach was given a revamped attacking line and defensive additions.
However, those recruits largely failed to meet early expectations, as Liverpool stumbled to a fifth-place finish with no silverware. Slot was shown the door at the start of June, with Iraola stepping in following his exit from Bournemouth.
With the World Cup in full flow, the club have been pressing ahead with transfer business, including the pursuit of Osasuna's Munoz. The 22-year-old underwent his medical on Wednesday and has signed a six-year deal to become Iraola's first recruit at Anfield.
The Reds saw off competition from several other clubs for his signature, including Newcastle, Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester United and Real Madrid. The fee for Munoz will be paid in two instalments, with 50% of the winger's transfer fee heading to Real Madrid, who offloaded the player last summer.
Liverpool sent a representative to the USA to finalise the deal, with his fitness tests carried out in Tennessee. Now, attention will turn elsewhere — and Yan Diomande could be Liverpool's next signing.
The club moved a step closer to bringing in the exciting RB Leipzig winger on Thursday evening, indicating to the Bundesliga outfit they are prepared to pay up to €100million (£86.7m) to sign him. The speed of the deals for Munoz and Diomande have come as a surprise to many, and another swoop to strengthen the midfield could be the next order of business.
Bouaddi is another high-profile target to emerge from the World Cup, with Liverpool reportedly having previously held talks with the player's representatives. The Morocco international caught the eye on his debut at the tournament, pulling the strings as they battled to a 1-1 draw with Brazil.
Liverpool would face stiff competition for his signature. Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs have all been linked with the promising midfielder, alongside European giants Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
However, Liverpool's recent track record of winning transfer battles — as demonstrated in their pursuit of Munoz — gives them a solid foundation heading into the race for Bouaddi. In terms of club output, the 18-year-old made 42 appearances but managed just one assist for Lille last season, though he predominantly operates just ahead of the defence.
Defensive midfield is a position the Reds will be eager to reinforce as Ryan Gravenberch is currently their only recognised option in that role. Stefan Bajcetic can also play as a No.6 but has been sidelined for a year through injury. Wataru Endo remains another possibility, though he recently pulled out of the World Cup with a persistent ankle problem before announcing his retirement from international football.
After a disappointing season, Liverpool should prioritise players who are ready to hit the ground running, and Bouaddi appears to be the ideal solution to Iraola's looming midfield headache.
