Liverpool’s dream final month of transfer window as Iraola reunion secured and Barcola signs

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Liverpool need to find a replacement for Mohamed Salah and strengthen their defence before the new Premier League season begins. Following a tough campaign under Arne Slot , the Reds switched gears to Andoni Iraola and are aiming for a return to glory.

Iraola's success at Bournemouth , culminating in the Cherries qualifying for European football for the first time, turned Liverpool heads. Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz have both signed deals at Anfield with Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all leaving at the end of their contracts.

The Spaniard will be well aware that he still needs positional upgrades before the new season starts, and the wing is a priority. At least two new signings are required if the Reds have any chance of reaching the heights they achieved in Slot's first season or Klopp's successful reign.

Here, Mirror Football has detailed exactly what Liverpool should do to end their transfer window in the best way possible.

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Munoz was brought in for £34.5million last month in a deal structured over six years, amounting to just £5.75m annually. This means there remains a significant war chest to land a marquee winger, which is understood to be the Reds' biggest priority this summer.

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A number of wide players have been touted for a move to Anfield, but Bradley Barcola remains Liverpool's number one target. The Reds' bid to land the French international received a timely boost at the weekend when it emerged that Barcola had rejected a fresh contract offer from Paris Saint-Germain.

One stumbling block in securing a deal for the 23-year-old, however, is PSG's reported £140m asking price, which would set a club record. Liverpool are unwilling to match that figure and will reportedly seek a middle ground, with negotiations between the two sides said to continue this week.

Should they manage to bring him in for a reduced fee, Iraola would have one of the most electrifying attackers in the world at his fingertips. Barcola possesses skill and pace in equal measure, equally capable of leading swift counter-attacks and unpicking stubborn defensive blocks.

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His versatility to operate on either flank is an added bonus, affording the Reds boss the flexibility to deploy him on the left or slot him into Salah's role on the right. Should Liverpool fail to agree a lower price with PSG, however, Chelsea's Pedro Neto could be a worthy fallback option.

Chelsea are not actively pursuing Neto's sale but the Portuguese would command a lower fee than Barcola, while still representing a versatile and Premier League-proven addition across the forward line.

After securing a wide forward, Liverpool must shift their focus to their struggling defence. Even prior to Konate's departure, the Reds were light at the back, considering Joe Gomez's persistent time on the sidelines and Giovanni Leoni's lengthy recovery from an ACL injury.

The situation appears even more problematic now following Gomez's withdrawal due to injury in the pre-season friendly against Sunderland at the weekend, while new signing Jacquet was omitted as a precaution.

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If doubts exist over whether Liverpool possess sufficient depth before the campaign has even started, it suggests something is fundamentally amiss. Iraola acknowledged as much last Monday, when he delivered his second press conference and the opening one of Liverpool's summer 2026 pre-season tour of the USA.

The manager referenced right-back Conor Bradley's own rehabilitation from a serious injury and emphasised that, while he views Bradley as the club's long-term right-back, the club are seeking a "solution" to their centre-back and right-back concerns. As a result, it would be smart to recruit a defender capable of performing both roles to a high standard, as Liverpool's extensive list of injured defenders continues their recovery.

Pursuing James Hill appears to be the most logical move for Iraola, given the defender flourished under him at Bournemouth last season. Across 29 league outings, Hill proved to be one of the Cherries' most reliable figures at the back.

While predominantly a centre-back, he made three appearances at right-back - a versatility that suits Liverpool well, given Iraola has identified Bradley as the long-term first choice in that position. Hill registered 11.16 defensive contributions per 90 minutes, won 65.5% of his aerial duels, and came out on top in 63.8% of his overall duels.

No central defender in the league won more aerial duels per 90 minutes than Hill (4.88), and he also showcased an ability to drive the ball in the forward-thinking manner Iraola wants from his defence, crafting an impressive 0.56 chances per 90.

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At present, there is virtually no chatter surrounding a potential exit from the Vitality Stadium. But that is precisely something Liverpool ought to change by stepping up their interest.

He would represent a vital addition to the squad, bolstering depth and filling a homegrown slot in the Reds' domestic and European squads.

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