Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has admitted the club have a problem on the wings ahead of the new Premier League campaign, with the manager pushing for reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
The Reds are preparing for the start of the season with Iraola already aware that his attacking options are not as deep as he would like.
For the Liverpool boss, the issue is clear: the squad needs more quality and depth in the wide areas.
Iraola has made no secret of his frustration with the timing of the transfer window, which remains open after competitive football has already begun.
The situation leaves managers having to prepare for matches while potentially losing or adding players at short notice.
The Spaniard admitted he would have preferred to have his ideal squad assembled from the first day of pre-season.
“As a manager, it’s an easy one for me. I wanted the players from the first day on July 13, I wanted everyone here, all the positions doubled with top-level players,” he said.
However, Iraola accepts that the transfer market does not operate according to a manager’s preferred timetable.
“But you understand how the competition works and the market is open when you start the competition, we have to adapt as coaches to this situation.”
The Liverpool manager’s biggest concern appears to be the wide positions.
The club have already suffered a major attacking loss following the departure of Mohamed Salah, while the current squad does not provide Iraola with enough specialist options to comfortably rotate across a demanding campaign.
The situation has made the pursuit of another winger increasingly important.
Iraola was particularly blunt when discussing the uncertainty surrounding the transfer window.
“I hate these two weeks or 10 days that we have because there is a lot of uncertainty but not [just] in Liverpool but everywhere.”
His comments underline the pressure facing Liverpool’s recruitment team as the season gets underway.
The Reds are understood to have identified Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola as a leading target, while the Anfield giants have also tested Brighton’s resolve for Yankuba Minteh.
A reported £50 million offer for Minteh was rejected, highlighting the difficulty of securing the attacking reinforcement Iraola wants.
The manager believes the need for additions is particularly obvious on the wings.
“You are asking what we need, there are certain situations that for me are clear, especially on the wing because we don’t have enough players specifically to play in those positions.”
Liverpool are also facing change in midfield, with Curtis Jones reportedly closing in on a £30 million move to Inter Milan.
Despite that impending departure, Iraola does not appear to be prioritising a direct replacement in midfield.Instead, the focus remains firmly on strengthening the attack.
That decision could make the final stages of the transfer window particularly important for Liverpool, especially if injuries or suspensions hit their existing wide options.
The Liverpool boss is clearly thinking beyond the opening weekend.
A Premier League campaign demands depth, while additional competitions can quickly stretch a squad.
For Iraola, having two reliable options in every attacking position would provide the flexibility needed to maintain intensity throughout the season.
For now, however, he must work with the players available.
The message from the Liverpool dugout is unmistakable: the Reds need more options out wide, and the transfer window remains their opportunity to fix it.
With the clock ticking, Liverpool’s next major move could define just how prepared Iraola’s squad is for the battles ahead.
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