Liverpool are stepping up their transfer work before the Premier League opener against Newcastle on August 23. Victor Munoz remains the club's only signing so far after his £34.5m move from Osasuna, and the departures of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have left the squad needing more depth.
Manager Andoni Iraola has given supporters an update on returning players, while former Reds midfielder Vladimir Smicer has urged the club to pursue Bournemouth's £80m-rated Alex Scott.
Iraola confirms three-player update
Iraola has confirmed that Munoz, Alisson Becker and Alexis Mac Allister will join up with the squad over the next few weeks. The trio were given extra rest after their World Cup commitments, with Munoz and Mac Allister both reaching the final for Spain and Argentina respectively. Munoz and Alisson are expected to return to training this week once Liverpool arrive back in England from their pre-season tour of the United States.
Speaking to the club's official website on Saturday, Iraola said: "Yes, he comes next week. We spoke to him and he wanted also to come a little bit earlier than the three weeks that they have the right to have, because obviously he is coming to a new club, he will need some time to adapt, to meet his teammates. We will have him next week as soon as we arrive there, basically. It's good news."
He added: "Yes, Alisson will be there from the first day. He was arriving to AXA a little bit later than Cody [Gakpo] and Virgil [van Dijk]. But he will be [there] since the first day that we arrive and will start training there in Liverpool."
On Mac Allister, the manager said the midfielder will return around August 9, when Liverpool face Monaco in a pre-season fixture. "Alexis will have, I think, until the Monaco game. I think deserved holidays for him; long season, long World Cup, played until the final, has played a lot of minutes. I hope he comes fully recovered and he enjoys also the break that he definitely has earned."
Club legend endorses pursuit of £80m star
Smicer, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, believes Iraola's previous time managing Scott at Bournemouth could help secure a deal. The 22-year-old has been linked with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, who have already seen a bid of around £65m rejected.
"I think you can expect Andoni Iraola would like to take Alex Scott because he knows what he can do," Smicer said via Casinostugan. "To be honest, in midfield we need a bit more spark with people who are fighting but are clever going forward, turning quickly with the ball and finding strikers. Of course, we expect a lot from (Florian) Wirtz to do this. But Andoni Iraola knows Alex Scott. If the price is right and he sees the possibility to strengthen the team, why not?"
Smicer also highlighted uncertainty in Liverpool's midfield: "Curtis Jones is linked with a few moves, and if he leaves, we need midfield press. We don't know what's happening with (Alexis) Mac Allister, he had a bit of a weak season and was not at the same level. (Ryan) Gravenberch had a good start, but then it was not the best. Only (Dominik) Szoboszlai was a top player in midfield for the whole season."
He added: "In midfield you need competition, and Scott can be a great asset because he's only twenty-two and is playing regularly for the England youth teams. He's a good prospect and a local guy from the UK. These things are important. I don't know if he would love to play for Liverpool, but not many players would turn them down. He's got a good chance now because Andoni Iraola is the new manager. If he likes him, I think we can find the money."
