Iraola Hints at Gakpo Exit as Liverpool Nears £120m Deal for Barcola

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has admitted there’s no certainty that Cody Gakpo will stay at Anfield past the summer transfer deadline. The Dutch forward, who joined Liverpool in January 2023, is attracting strong interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City as the final days of the transfer market approach.

Gakpo’s Situation Remains Unclear

Since arriving at Liverpool, Gakpo has netted 51 goals in 181 appearances across all competitions. Tottenham have pursued him aggressively this summer, while Manchester City are also keeping tabs on the 27-year-old attacker. Meanwhile, Liverpool are close to completing a club-record signing for Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola, which fuels speculation over Gakpo’s future.

Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, Iraola said: “When the market is open, you cannot guarantee anything with anyone. We don’t know who will arrive. Cody is playing very well for us. He’s been very good since he came back from the World Cup. I’d like to know how the market finishes, but right now I don’t know what’s going to happen. I can sense who we’re going to sign and what positions, but experience shows that if an opportunity comes up on the last day, you think: If it improves us, then let’s take it.”

Liverpool Close to Signing Barcola

The Reds have made significant progress towards signing Barcola from PSG. After a breakthrough in negotiations, Liverpool have agreed an initial fee just above £100 million, potentially rising to around £120 million with performance bonuses. Although payment details remain under discussion, Iraola remained cautious when asked about Barcola’s arrival:

“You know we’re trying to sign in this position, but we can’t talk about players who aren’t ours yet. We need to fill that position because right now we don’t have enough options. Hopefully, good news comes soon, but we’re not there yet.”

Midfield Reinforcements Still Possible

The 2-2 draw against Newcastle United sparked debate over Liverpool’s squad depth, especially after a quiet transfer window so far. New arrivals include Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, Victor Munoz from Osasuna, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Wien, while Curtis Jones left for Inter Milan.

Iraola spoke about potential further signings: “Ideally is the magic word. There are things you can do and things you don’t know if you can do. Strengthening the wide areas has been the priority. If we can improve other areas, we will. But I don’t know how the market will finish. I have to be patient, just like you. It’s uncomfortable because of the uncertainties. In four or five days, we can make proper plans. On September 1, we’ll know our options.”

Squad Rotation and Player Status

Questions linger over Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott, both missing from the squad against Newcastle. Chiesa is recovering from a minor muscle injury, while Elliott faces tough competition for playing time.

Iraola explained: “Different situations. Fede isn’t available; he felt something during training. With Harvey, I can only pick 20 players. It’s about finding the right balance on the bench. Harvey is trying and improving every week, but I prefer other options right now. I chose James McConnell for the squad. This is a new week with new chances for everyone, and they must keep that mindset.”