Andoni Iraola has repeatedly asked Liverpool to strengthen the squad, but the 2026 summer transfer window has closed with important gaps still not being filled.
Iraola admitted that Liverpool needed more players right from the first press conference as head coach. At that time, the summer transfer window was still enough time for them to improve their squad after a season that only finished fifth under Arne Slot.
However, when the market closed, Iraola's concerns remained. Liverpool even has a thinner squad than last season in terms of number. The first team's 4 new players are not enough to compensate for the departure of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate and Curtis Jones, alongside some reserve players such as Calvin Ramsay and Stefan Bajcetic. Harvey Elliott also moved to Valencia on loan.
Liverpool has invested heavily, but the problem lies in the allocation of resources. Bradley Barcola is the most prominent deal with an initial fee of 123 million Euros, possibly an increase of 19 million Euros. The French player brings speed and the ability to create breakthroughs for the attack, but does not solve the gaps on the right wing, midfield and right-back position.
Victor Munoz is another notable signing. The Spanish player joined Osasuna for 40 million Euros and soon made his mark in his first appearances. He earned a late penalty against Newcastle and scored the equalizer in the match against Nottingham Forest.
The "Reds" also spent 70 million Euros for young center-back Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes. This player had a good start at Anfield and is considered an investment for the future. Meanwhile, loaning Ronald Araujo from Barcelona for a season helps the defense have more options without entailing too many long-term risks.
Liverpool's total net spending is up to 218 million pounds, the highest in the Premier League. This figure shows that FSG is not lacking ambition in the transfer market. However, fans still have reason to question when such a large amount of money is not used to strengthen all positions that are lacking personnel.
The midfield is one of the clearest problems. Liverpool has not recruited a true midfielder since Ryan Gravenberch in September 2023. Efforts to bring Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Anfield at that time both failed.
The appearance of Trey Nyoni may help reduce the gap after Curtis Jones moved to Inter Milan for 35 million Euros. However, the 19-year-old player only had 21 minutes playing in the Premier League last season. Placing too much expectation on Nyoni will immediately be a gamble.
The right-back is even more urgent. Liverpool does not have a right-back fit enough to play regularly. Jeremie Frimpong has not made a mark when playing in a four-man defense, and Conor Bradley still needs to be managed during his playing time after a serious knee injury in January.
Liverpool has decided not to rush to find short-term solutions. Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike are expected to return in the coming months after long-term injuries, so they choose to wait instead of continuing to spend.
However, this approach also contains risks. Liverpool will compete in the Champions League and require much larger squad depth. Having to play continuously on many fronts can make personnel gaps a serious problem.
