Andoni Iraola Sends Clear Liverpool Message as Bradley Barcola Transfer Nears Completion

Andoni Iraola has admitted he is desperate for Liverpool’s summer transfer uncertainty to finally come to an end, with the £123million arrival of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain now edging closer.

Liverpool have reached an agreement worth an initial £106million, with a further £17million in potential add-ons. Barcola is expected to undergo his medical this weekend before completing his move to Anfield.

For Iraola, the significance goes beyond simply adding another attacking option. The Liverpool manager wants to know exactly which players will be available to him once the transfer window closes on Tuesday night.

Iraola ready for some certainty

Liverpool began the season with consecutive 2-2 draws, the latest coming against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday.

Morgan Gibbs-White’s penalty and Dan Ndoye’s low finish put Forest in a strong position before Alexander Isak pulled one back for Liverpool and Victor Munoz struck late to rescue a point.

The defensive issues exposed during those opening fixtures have left Iraola with plenty to assess, while Liverpool still have several days to complete further business.

Asked about Barcola after the Forest draw, Iraola made it clear that patience is now the order of the day.

“We’ve been patient all summer and now we just have to wait,” he told BBC Match of the Day.

“We just have to wait a couple more days and see how we finish and how the squad looks in the second half of September.”

The manager then delivered the clearest indication yet of what he wants most from deadline day.

“Honestly, I am looking forward to having who we have and a definitive squad so we can start working with certainties.”

Liverpool’s squad remains unsettled

Barcola would become the latest addition to an increasingly reshaped Liverpool squad, following Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo.

But Iraola suggested there could still be movement before the deadline.

Asked whether more players could arrive, he said: “I cannot tell you anything different right now. It’s true that there are things going on, like is normal because we are talking about the last weeks of the market, but now we have to wait.”

He added that he was looking forward to reaching September 2 with a settled group.

“I’m looking forward to having the squad [on] September 2, [so we can say] this is who we are and working with certainties,” Iraola said.

“Now everything is quite like uncertain and it’s the same for every team, but it’s how the competition works. Now we have to wait just some [more] days and work with what we have after the market closes.”

Iraola refuses to look too far ahead

The Liverpool boss was also reluctant to make definitive judgments about his squad while transfers remained unresolved.

“We are talking now about the hypothesis because we don’t know what’s going to be the squad on September 2,” he explained.

“I think every analysis that I can make is when I know and when everything finishes, when I know who’s going to be here all the season or at least until January.”

After waiting throughout the summer for his squad to take shape, Iraola knows there are only a few more days before he can finally plan with greater certainty.

“So now, we’ve waited all the summer, so we have to wait two, three more days, analyse and see what we have when the market closes,” he said.

Gerrard hails Barcola’s potential

While Iraola remains focused on completing the squad, Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has already given his verdict on Barcola.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Gerrard described the French attacker as an “incredible talent” and believes he still has significant room for development.

“This is a player who has won two Champions Leagues in the last two years. I don’t think he’s hit his ceiling yet, still think there’s potential there,” Gerrard said.

“Growth. He can evolve into an even better player which is very exciting.”

Gerrard believes that potential makes the deal particularly significant for Liverpool.

“But it’s the type of level of player that’s going to help take Liverpool to the next level,” he added. “So I think it’s a fantastic deal.”

With Barcola’s medical approaching and the transfer deadline looming on Tuesday at 11pm, Iraola’s wait for certainty is almost over.

Liverpool’s squad should soon have a definitive shape — and only then will the new manager be able to properly judge what his team can achieve in the months ahead.