Liverpool transfer strategy: Why Andoni Iraola needs core signings despite pre-season promise

Liverpool transfer strategy: Why Andoni Iraola needs core signings despite pre-season promise Liverpool showed glimpses of their quality as they overcame Sunderland 4-2 in their first official friendly ahead of the 2026-27 season on Saturday. Sunderland defender Dan Ballard admitted after the game that the imprint of new manager Andoni Iraola was already evident, centring around how his Bournemouth team played last season. Iraola’s side were too strong for the Black Cats, but there were clear warning signs for him in the game, particularly with respect to the composition of his squad. The Reds have made just one senior addition to their squad this summer, bringing in Spain international Victor Munoz from Osasuna. They have not been very busy on the transfer front, and have around a month to strengthen their squad. The 2024-25 Premier League champions will be doing themselves a huge disservice if they fail to bring in a centre-back and a new winger before the transfer window closes. Impending fitness returns aren’t enough for a title challenge Iraola was left scratching his head against Sunderland as Joe Gomez went down with an injury after just eight minutes. He was partnered by teenage centre-back Mor Talla Ndiaye, and then replaced by another teenager, Ifeanyi Ndukwe. Liverpool lost Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer earlier this summer, and club captain Virgil van Dijk has only just returned to Merseyside after his FIFA World Cup participation. They were linked with Maxence Lacroix , who appears set to end up at Chelsea, but other defensive targets have gone completely cold. Liverpool would be wrong to place their trust in youngsters Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet to partner van Dijk for the bulk of their 2026-27 campaign. Both centre-backs are working their way back to full fitness following lengthy injury lay-offs. Neither player will immediately be ready for the rigours of Premier League football and must be eased in gradually. The club must sign an experienced centre-back this summer, particularly with Gomez injured. A new winger is key for Liverpool Iraola spoke in his first press conference in the United States about the need to bring in a new winger. Fans may be content with the addition of Munoz and the apparent desire of Federico Chiesa to remain at the club beyond this summer, but the club needs a new winger. With Hugo Ekitike set to miss a chunk of the season with an Achilles injury that he picked up last season, the bulk of the goalscoring burden will be on Alexander Isak’s shoulders. Iraola wants a wide threat who can contribute decisively with goals and assists to offset the burden, and the wingers currently at the club are not clinical. None of their current options has ever scored more than ten league goals in a season in one of Europe’s top five leagues. The Reds have been linked with Bradley Barcola, who scored 25 league goals in the last two seasons combined. They need to reach an agreement for the France international.