Bradley Barcola could make his Liverpool debut at Portman Road on Friday night, with boss Andoni Iraola confirming the Frenchman will be available if he trains well on Thursday.
Iraola backs Barcola for immediate action
Iraola has backed Barcola to be available for the trip to Ipswich after praising the winger's desire to join Liverpool. The 24-year-old completed a £123million move from PSG following a summer-long chase, becoming the Reds' marquee signing of the window.
The European champions had initially looked likely to price Liverpool out of a deal, but an agreement was eventually reached. Barcola is now the third £100m-plus player to move to Merseyside in the last two summers.
Positive training session key
Despite being absent for PSG amid his uncertain future, Barcola has impressed Iraola in training. The Liverpool boss said a positive session on Thursday would see him make his first appearance for his new team when they face Ipswich on Friday night.
Iraola said: "We are very happy with Bradley, it was our priority to sign a very very good player in those positions. He has come also with the right mentality. I like that he wanted Liverpool a lot. He wanted to come here."
"It's a good first sign and being the player he is he has come with the willingness to help us. He is playing well for us and if everything goes well in training today he will definitely be available for us tomorrow."
Barcola's pedigree and selection impact
Barcola arrives off the back of helping PSG retain their Champions League crown - just the second team in history to do so. He scored 13 times last season, including a strike against Chelsea in west London, and will seek to help Liverpool win for the first time this season after successive 2-2 draws.
His signing presents Iraola with selection headaches given the wealth of talent now available. Liverpool are determined to get a tune out of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who have underwhelmed since arriving but have commanded starts so far this term.
Barcola's debut could come at the expense of either Cody Gakpo, who scored at Newcastle but saw a move away from Anfield curtailed, or Rio Ngumoha, the teenage sensation seeking more opportunities. Fellow summer signing Victor Munoz scored last week, but the competition for places could see him start from the bench.
