Andoni Iraola has outlined what Liverpool are looking for in their ongoing pursuit of new wingers as they edge nearer a £120million deal for Bradley Barcola.
The Reds have reached an outline agreement with Paris Saint-Germain over the transfer of Barcola having been locked in talks with the Champions League winners for some time. Significant progress was made overnight on Wednesday with a deal being discussed that involves a guaranteed fee of just over £100m with add-ons based on individual and team success potentially taking the overall outlay up to in the region of £120m.
The detail of the proposed transfer is still to be agreed and the ECHO understands there remains work to be done for the move to be concluded. But the deal for Barcola, who was initially valued at €170m (£145m) by PSG, is moving in the right direction for Liverpool ahead of next Tuesday's transfer deadline.
Iraola's demands for new wingers
The Reds want to further bolster their attacking options, and have been assessing a move for Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr after being told Brighton want close to £80m for Yankuba Minteh, although Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler on Thursday hinted there could be a deal to be done over the Gambia international.
And while refusing to be drawn on Liverpool's ongoing transfer business, Iraola has explained what will be required from whoever comes in over the coming days.
"I think for a club like us we need wingers who can make the difference, who can be the man who can make the difference in isolation, who can attack the spaces, who can also do the defensive work that we are going to demand from them in terms of pressing or sometimes following the full-backs," said the Reds head coach.
"And also if they can provide numbers then it's perfect. It is difficult to find someone who can tick all the boxes, but it is what we are trying to do."
Late push for attacking reinforcements
Despite having known since at least March that Mohamed Salah would be leaving in the summer, Liverpool have struggled to find a replacement on the right flank after a failed £86million bid in June for first-choice option Yan Diomande, who instead joined Real Madrid from RB Leipzig for more than £100m.
Iraola, though, is taking a pragmatic view regards the Reds leaving it late to bolster their attacking resources.
"I definitely would have preferred to have the wingers ready on the first day (of training)," he said. "The same for every position. But I understand that it's not easy in the market and the wingers that we are trying to sign, they are of a high level."
"They are wanted by a lot of clubs, and I think it's very difficult also for the club to close those situations. But as long as we arrive at the right place at the end and we sign the right players, I think it would be worth it even if they haven't been with us in pre-season."
Gakpo's future and form
The completion of a move for Barcola could cast doubt over the long-term future of Cody Gakpo, who has been interesting both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
However, Iraola remains fulsome in his praise of Gakpo, who scored Liverpool's first competitive goal of his tenure in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Newcastle United.
"He is playing very well for us, he has been very good since he came back from the World Cup," said the Liverpool head coach. "A good attitude and I hope we can keep him at that level because he has been very influential."
