Andoni Iraola is hoping for 'good news soon' after Liverpool agreed a deal in principle with Paris Saint-Germain to sign Bradley Barcola. The Reds have pursued the France international all summer long and now look set to close on his signature after a breakthrough in negotiations with the Parisians over a package worth up to £120m.
Iraola on the club's transfer plans
Iraola has been open that Liverpool are looking to strengthen their attack throughout the summer, following the departure of the long-serving Mohamed Salah. And while the Spaniard would not directly confirm that the Reds were closing in on Barcola, he admitted he hoped that the club would soon have positive news in what could be a busy final few days of the transfer window.
"As you know now, we are trying to sign in that position," he said. "And also, as you know, we cannot talk about players that are not ours. But it is evident that we are trying to improve and try to fill that position because we don't have the numbers. I hope we can have good news soon but we are still not there."
Gakpo's future in question
The arrival of Barcola could have a knock-on effect for Cody Gakpo's future, with the Dutchman having attracted interest from both Tottenham Hotspur and Man City. Iraola praised the forward, having seen him score Liverpool's first goal of the season in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United.
But despite his admiration for Gakpo, he conceded he was unable to guarantee that the forward would still be a Reds player when the transfer window closes. "I can say what I said in the past week. And even after the performance he had in the first game, I say the same again," he said. "He is playing very well for us. He has been very good since he came back from the World Cup and after his holidays. Very good attitude and I hope we can keep him at that level because he has been very influential in our game."
"When the market is open and we have 20-30 players, you cannot guarantee anything with anyone. You never know who is going to arrive. I would like to know how the market finishes. And then we finish with this one and this one. But I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen with any of our players. I cannot guarantee anything."
"You think I can smell what we are going to sign or what positions, but after experience, it shows you that if there is an opportunity on the last day and you think it improves us, okay, let's take it."
