The clock is ticking at Anfield, with Liverpool facing Newcastle in their Premier League season opener on August 23 and time running out in this summer's transfer window. Victor Munoz remains the Reds' solitary signing after completing a £34.5 million move from Osasuna, and the departures of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate mean Iraola needs to add both numbers and experience to his squad.
Iraola has now confirmed when Munoz, Alisson Becker and Alexis Mac Allister will link up with the squad in the coming weeks. All three were afforded extended rest periods because of their World Cup involvement, with Munoz and Mac Allister reaching the final with Spain and Argentina respectively.
Munoz and Alisson to report this week
Munoz and Alisson are expected to report for training this week once the Reds touch down back in England following their pre-season tour of the USA.
Speaking about Munoz, Iraola told the club's official website on Saturday: "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."
Iraola 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."
Mac Allister set for Monaco fixture return
On Mac Allister, the Basque head coach confirmed the midfielder is due to return around August 9, the date Liverpool face Monaco in a pre-season fixture.
He said: "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."
Smicer backs Liverpool move for Alex Scott
Liverpool legend Vladimir Smicer has urged the Reds to pursue Bournemouth's £80m-rated midfielder Alex Scott. The 22-year-old has been linked with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, who have already seen a bid of around £65m rejected for the player.
Smicer, who won the Champions League with the Reds in 2005, believes Iraola's connection with Scott, having previously managed the midfielder on the south coast, could prove pivotal in any potential deal should Liverpool make their move.
"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?"
"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."
"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."
