Andoni Iraola has insisted Liverpool will be active in the transfer market over the coming weeks, although they may have to wait until later in the window for deals to be completed.
The Reds have signed three players so far this summer, with Ronald Araújo having joined on loan following the arrivals of Jérémy Jacquet and Víctor Muñoz. Liverpool’s priority this summer is strengthening wide areas, with talks ongoing with Paris Saint-Germain for forward Bradley Barcola.
Sources told ESPN that Iraola’s side also had a £50 million bid rejected for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Yankuba Minteh this week.
“We will definitely sign some players,” Iraola told Sky Sports. “Some deals you have to wait until the end. But the end is the important picture, the one we will have on September 1, because it is true that we are still quite thin.”
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Elaborating on Liverpool’s transfer plans during a news conference on Friday ahead of this weekend’s clash with Newcastle United, the Liverpool boss said: “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.
“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. 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.
“But we have to adapt and not spend too much time thinking about these things. I know that you have lots of questions on the market but I am focused on the game against Newcastle.
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“That is massive for me and using the very good players we have in the building in the best way so we can be competitive from the beginning.”
Iraola added: “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 . And after in other positions we have to be open-minded in the market to see situations that honestly can improve our team.
“It’s not about signing because we need a player here. It’s about improving the squad because we already have very good players here. So to improve our very good players, you need specific level players.”
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Iraola also confirmed that — following the departure of Andy Robertson — he has selected three vice-captains for the upcoming season to support captain Virgil van Dijk.
“We took a decision. Captains will be Virgil, will be Alisson, will be Joe Gomez and will be Dom[inik] Szoboszlai,” he said.
“But I explained to Alisson especially that it’s not going to be possible that he wears the armband because, with the new rules I think there is a big limitation if a keeper wears the armband, because basically if something happens in the opposition box, the referee has to explain to the captains what’s happening.”
