Andoni Iraola confirms Liverpool winger move as transfer talk continues - 'we need someone'

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has addressed what could be expected from the transfer window this summer

Andoni Iraola has confirmed Liverpool remain in the market for a right winger and expects further arrivals this summer as he overhauls his squad.

But the Reds head coach admits that expecting any new forward to replicate the impact of the departed Mohamed Salah would be "preparing him to fail".

Liverpool were ready to offer £86million for RB Leipzig teenager Yan Diomande only for the Bundesliga side to reject the offer and it to subsequently emerge the player would prefer a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

The Reds have also been linked with £100m-plus rated France international Bradley Barcola of PSG, Yankuba Minteh of Brighton, Koln teenager Said El Mala and Matias Fernandez-Pardo of Lille.

And while seeking fresh faces, Liverpool head coach Iraola has urged his current squad to step up given the recent exit of several experienced players.

"We cannot expect to sign a winger that is going to replace Mo Salah because otherwise we are preparing him to fail almost," he said.

"I think obviously we need someone in that area but probably will have different skills. He can maybe complement the team in another way and we are working on that, definitely. It's one of the challenges.

"Definitely there are going to be changes. A lot of senior players, players who have won everything here have left and we need other players to not replace them but assume (more responsibility) in terms of inside and outside the pitch.

"Some of the players we already have here also have to step up. They will for sure find themselves in an even more important position. And also we have to find solutions outside that can help the very good players we already have."

Liverpool already have two new players this summer, with £60m centre-back Jeremy Jacquet having arrived from Rennes and £34.5m Spain international winger Victor Munoz linking up after the World Cup.

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"Jeremy is a player I know very well even before signing for Liverpool," said Iraola. "Still being young, he has all the tools that we will need for that position. He also comes last months of the season with a shoulder injury but he's fully fit. He was ready to go from the beginning,

"Victor is also a player I know very well. He can play both wings and I think he has the tools and the mentality. When I talked to the player he is still humble and ambitious. I think he is going to be a very good addition for us."

Speaking to Stan Sport of Australia, Iraola reiterated the main issues with which he is having to contend having taken over from the sacked Arne Slot last month.

"When I arrived, we had two situations that probably are not perfect, in terms of a lot of senior very, very important players leaving, Mo Salah, (Andy) Robertson, (Ibrahima) Konate, players that have been fundamental in the last few years of this club," he said.

"And also the challenge of some very important players having very bad injuries. I'm talking about Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, others that have smaller issues but still are not there in pre-season. It's not an ideal situation but football is always like this. You have to adapt.

"I know the expectations here are the expectations of a big club and right now my focus is on building a team to answer those expectations.

"I'm trying to maximise every player we already have, how to get them in an even better spot then they already are and try to build something collective that can give us the titles, the wins and what everyone expects."

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