Lewis Steele: Liverpool have ‘done the work’ on four or five transfer targets

Lewis Steele: Liverpool have ‘done the work’ on four or five transfer targets Liverpool transfer latest points firmly towards another winger signing Liverpool’s summer planning still appears geared towards adding another forward, and the strongest indication yet has come via Lewis Steele speaking to The Redmen TV . The broad message is clear, Liverpool remain active in the market for a winger, and confidence inside the reporting around the situation is extremely high. That matters because Liverpool are dealing with a significant attacking reset. Mohamed Salah’s departure at the end of last season left a major gap in output, reliability and status. Replacing that with one move was always likely to be unrealistic, but replacing it with the right profile, and with enough depth around the frontline, has understandably become one of the defining themes of the window. Steele’s view was emphatic. “If I say 100%, I’ll get hounded out of Anfield by the fans the next time I’m there if they don’t! Yeah, I’m 99% [sure] they’ve got to sign a winger. You can’t let the best player of the last decade, and fourth in the all-time list, leave and not replace him.” Liverpool winger search still looks active The direction of travel has been obvious for a while. Liverpool have already brought in Victor Munoz from Osasuna, but the sense remains that he was not intended to be the headline attacking arrival of the summer. That interpretation is strengthened by the failed push for Yan Diomande, who now appears to favour a move elsewhere. Steele added: “I know they signed Victor Munoz but I think the plan was always to do two forwards. With respect to Munoz, I think he was the second [choice] forward. It was a bit of a dagger in the heart to miss out on Diomande, as it appears that’s going to be the case, but they’ve clearly got money there if they bid £80m for Diomande a few weeks ago.” That £80m figure is particularly revealing. In transfer windows, unsuccessful bids can sometimes tell as much of the story as completed deals. If Liverpool were prepared to go that high for one target, then budget is clearly not the limiting factor. The challenge is more likely to be availability, timing and identifying the right player for a post-Salah attack. Bradley Barcola among names to watch Bradley Barcola has been widely discussed and his profile makes obvious sense. He is capable of working from either flank, offers high-level one-v-one quality and carries the sort of upside Liverpool tend to value when they commit major money. Even if he is more naturally left-sided, tactical flexibility is a major part of the appeal. There is also a practical squad-building argument here. Federico Chiesa remains the most natural senior option on the right, while Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha offer depth on the opposite side alongside Munoz. That imbalance points towards a winger arriving before the window closes, especially if Liverpool also want to preserve variety across the frontline. Steele’s final assessment leaves little room for doubt. “They’ve got the money to do it and I’d be very surprised if they don’t [sign a winger]. They won’t sign someone for the sake of it. There’s four or five options that they’ve really done the work on, so I think we can say 99% sure. A winger was always a priority this summer.” Photo: IMAGO Time remains for Liverpool transfer business There is still enough of the window left for Liverpool to act with patience rather than panic. That is usually when this recruitment team has looked strongest, narrowing the field, waiting for the right opening and moving decisively when conditions align. On the available evidence, a Liverpool winger signing feels likely, and perhaps increasingly necessary, before the summer business is done. Our View As a Liverpool supporter, this update is encouraging, but it does not fully settle the nerves. Everyone can see the need for another forward. Replacing Salah was always going to be one of the biggest jobs any Liverpool recruitment team could face, and it is hard to imagine going into the season without a major addition on that side of the attack. The worrying bit is that fans have heard confidence before in other windows, only for deals to drift, prices to rise or targets to choose another club. Missing out on Diomande already stings, especially if Liverpool really were prepared to go as high as £80m. That suggests ambition is there, but ambition only counts when the player actually arrives holding the shirt. Barcola would be exciting, no question. He looks like the sort of signing who could lift the whole attack and give supporters something fresh to believe in. At the same time, there is a slight fear that too much depends on a perfect market opportunity appearing. Liverpool need quality, but they also need certainty. From a fan perspective, the squad still feels one attacker short. Munoz may prove useful, Chiesa may yet contribute more, and younger players may develop quickly, but that should not distract from the central issue. If Liverpool are serious about competing at the top again, they need another winger through the door before the deadline. Anything less would feel like an avoidable gamble.