Iraola Signals Liverpool Need More Than Just Wingers

Liverpool’s summer has felt long and bitty, a rebuild done in stages rather than in one sweeping overhaul.

Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz were through the door early, the groundwork of the window. Ronald Araujo followed on loan from Barcelona a couple of weeks ago, a headline defensive arrival to steady things at the back.

Now the gaze has shifted higher up the pitch. Liverpool have agreed a £120 million deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola, a statement move aimed at sharpening the attack. Bids have also gone in for Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr, only to be knocked back in recent days as selling clubs held their ground.

Yet while the wide areas dominate the noise, the real sore spot lies elsewhere.

Last season’s title defence fell apart in midfield. That area never convinced, and the numbers have actually thinned since. Curtis Jones has gone to Inter Milan in a £30m deal, leaving a department that already looked light now looking exposed.

The issues were laid bare again on opening weekend. A 2-2 draw at Newcastle United underlined the same old problems: gaps between the lines, a lack of control, and a midfield that too often looked second best.

Five days remain in the transfer window. The clock is loud now. Andoni Iraola knows it.

“We Need Players in the Wide Areas” – But That’s Not All

Speaking in his pre-match press conference before Liverpool’s clash with Nottingham Forest, the head coach was pressed on what might still happen before the deadline.

Asked if Liverpool could strengthen further in the coming days, Iraola did not hide the obvious priority: “There are certain things we can but it's true we need players in the wide areas.”

The wings are clearly at the top of his list. But he didn’t close the door on more.

“I'm sure if we can improve other areas we will but I don't know how the market is going to finish. I have to be patient as well as you.”

That line matters. Liverpool are not just hunting wingers; they are open to upgrades across the pitch if the right deals appear. The problem, as ever in the final week of a window, is uncertainty.

“It's very uncomfortable for me as you are dealing with uncertainties all the time. In four or five days we will know what we have and then we can make proper plans.”

For now, Iraola is working in the dark, preparing for competitive games while his squad list feels like a moving target.

Pressure on the Hierarchy

Iraola has been clear about what he sees when he looks at his squad. The wide positions need reinforcing. Other areas, midfield included, need attention if Liverpool are to avoid a repeat of last season’s collapse.

The head coach has laid out the needs. The market is ticking down. It is now on the Liverpool hierarchy and sporting director Richard Hughes to turn that clarity into signings that can actually change the direction of the season.