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Premier League
Andoni Iraola has admitted Liverpool have "obvious" areas to address in the transfer market this summer, with a winger top of the list following the exits of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konaté. Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister's father has firmly denied Real Madrid talks.
Andoni Iraola is not a man prone to sugarcoating, and his latest assessment of Liverpool's transfer window should concern anyone backing the Reds to challenge for the Premier League title in 2026-27. The new Liverpool head coach has publicly acknowledged that his squad has "obvious" areas to address, and with the summer window ticking along, the pressure is mounting to get business done.
Liverpool have already secured two signings: defender Jérémie Jacquet and forward Víctor Muñoz. Solid additions, sure. But when you've lost Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konaté in the same window, two arrivals feel like bringing a plaster to a construction site. The departures have ripped holes across the pitch, and Iraola is under no illusions about the scale of the rebuild ahead.
Of all the positions Liverpool need to address, Iraola singled out one in particular: winger. With Salah gone (and all the goals, assists, and terrifying directness that went with him), this is a gaping wound in the squad. Finding a replacement who can replicate that kind of output is one of the toughest asks in world football, and Iraola knows it.
The Liverpool boss did acknowledge that other positions are on the radar too, but was careful to frame the club's approach as market-dependent. Translation: Liverpool aren't going to panic-buy, but they can't afford to wait around, either. The balance between patience and urgency will define Iraola's first summer at Anfield.
To complicate matters further, Iraola flagged injuries among players he trusts as a headache clouding the club's recruitment planning. When you're relying on a player to fill a role and their fitness is uncertain, do you go out and buy cover, or do you gamble on recovery? These are the kind of fine-margin decisions that could shape Liverpool's entire season before a ball is kicked.
It is a legitimate concern. Liverpool cannot go into a Premier League campaign relying on players whose availability is in doubt, and Iraola appears acutely aware of that risk.
Then there is the Alexis Mac Allister situation, a subplot that refuses to go away quietly. The Argentine midfielder, fresh off reaching the World Cup final with Argentina, has been the subject of persistent speculation linking him with a move to Spain and specifically Real Madrid. For Liverpool, losing Mac Allister on top of Salah, Robertson, and Konaté would be nothing short of catastrophic.
Iraola has been direct about his stance: he wants Mac Allister to stay. That much is clear. But wanting a player and keeping a player are two very different things when clubs like Real Madrid start circling.
For now, the noise has been dampened from the player's side. Mac Allister's father, Carlos, confirmed that there have been no discussions whatsoever with Real Madrid about a transfer. He was emphatic: Alexis is focused on his contract with Liverpool, which runs until June 2028. That is two more years of security for the Reds, and it gives them leverage.
But here is the reality check for Liverpool fans and bettors alike: a contract means protection, not permanence. If Real Madrid come calling with serious money next summer (or even this one, late in the window), the dynamic can shift quickly. For now, though, Mac Allister appears committed, and Liverpool will be desperate to build around him as they navigate this tricky transitional period under Iraola.
Liverpool's 2026-27 season is shaping up as a genuine crossroads. The squad has lost some of its most defining players. Iraola is a coach who demands intensity and tactical discipline, but he needs the personnel to execute his vision. Two signings in, with at least a winger still desperately needed and injury concerns muddying the waters, the clock is ticking.
If Liverpool get their business right, they could emerge as a reinvigorated force. If they don't, this could be a painful year of transition at Anfield, and one that punters tracking Premier League title odds should be watching very closely.
Jon
