Liverpool’s Winger Rebuild and Midfield Concerns

Liverpool’s winger rebuild is racing ahead. Their midfield, though, is starting to look dangerously thin.

Andoni Iraola has made wide areas and defence the priority in his first summer at Anfield. The club are pushing hard to land both Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG, having already secured Victor Munoz. Add Jeremy Jacquet – outstanding in the final pre-season outing against Como – and Ronald Araujo on loan, and the squad is being reshaped at pace.

But while the flanks and back line are being refreshed, the centre of the pitch risks being stripped bare.

Bajcetic talks open as Spain return looms

On Monday, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Getafe have opened talks with Liverpool over Stefan Bajcetic. The 21-year-old, long viewed as one of the brightest prospects at Anfield, is now at the heart of serious negotiations.

Romano confirmed only that “the formula” is under discussion. Loan or permanent, that part remains unclear. The contract situation, though, sharpens the stakes.

Bajcetic’s current deal runs out next summer. Any loan would require a renewal first; otherwise Liverpool would be sending a valuable asset into his final year with no protection. The alternative is stark: cash in now and sanction a permanent move to LaLiga.

Matteo Moretto has already outlined the player’s stance. Bajcetic is prepared to return to Spain if Liverpool decide to move him on, with Rayo Vallecano and Getafe both tracking him. Iraola is an admirer and wanted to see him up close in pre-season before any decision, but the player’s desire is clear: if he doesn’t stay and extend, he wants to go home.

That call now feels imminent.

Jones edging towards Inter exit

While Bajcetic weighs up a return to Spain, Curtis Jones is pushing for Italy.

The midfielder is determined to leave his boyhood club and join Serie A champions Inter Milan, and over the weekend the deal moved significantly closer. Two major obstacles that had stalled progress fell away almost in tandem.

First, Liverpool dropped their asking price. The initial £34m valuation has been cut to £30m, bringing it closer to Inter’s reach after the Nerazzurri had previously lodged a £26m bid. A new, improved offer from the Italians is expected.

Then came the second shift. Inter needed to clear space in midfield before going again for Jones, and Davide Frattesi has now been loaned to Lazio with an option to buy. That outgoing unlocks the budget and the squad slot for a renewed push at the Liverpool man.

With Jones eager to make the move and Inter finally positioned to strike, the momentum is all heading one way.

Iraola’s midfield puzzle

If both deals go through – Bajcetic to Getafe and Jones to Inter – Iraola will be left with just five recognised central midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and teenager Trey Nyoni.

For a club intent on challenging on four fronts, that is a razor-thin core. One injury crisis, one congested month, and the structure could creak badly.

Liverpool’s recruitment drive has been bold out wide and at the back. The question now is obvious: can Iraola really afford to let two midfielders walk without demanding at least one replacement of his own?