As Liverpool navigates a significant transition period, manager Andoni Iraola has emphasized the urgent need for reinforcements on the right flank following the departure of Mohamed Salah. Prioritizing pace, dribbling ability, and goal-scoring, Iraola is targeting potential replacements, with names such as RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and PSG’s Bradley Barcola emerging as leading candidates. This shift comes amid growing calls from former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer for the club to bolster both the right-back and right-wing positions to maintain balance and attacking threat.
Recent reports reveal that Salah has agreed to a two-year contract with Turkish side Besiktas, a move that would exclude him from next season’s UEFA Champions League competition. This departure leaves a significant void on Liverpool’s right wing, prompting the club to act swiftly in the transfer market.
Strategic Moves and Youth Investments
Alongside targeting established talents, Liverpool has made strides in securing promising youth prospects. The club has completed the signing of Colombian teenager Samuel Martinez after he passed his medical examination. In addition, Liverpool successfully acquired 14-year-old Isaiah Bryan from West Bromwich Albion, edging out competition from Aston Villa to secure the young talent’s signature.
Liverpool’s defensive ranks are also under scrutiny following the exit of Ibrahima Konate. The club is reportedly monitoring PSG centre-back Illia Zabarnyi, a 23-year-old who featured in 26 Ligue 1 matches last season but found himself behind Marquinhos and Willian Pacho in the pecking order toward the campaign’s end. Zabarnyi’s potential arrival would help address defensive depth concerns as Liverpool plans for the seasons ahead.
With veteran defender Virgil van Dijk approaching the final year of his contract in 2026 and his advancing age, the issue of leadership within the squad is also coming into focus. Dominik Szoboszlai has expressed his readiness to assume the vice-captaincy role, signaling a potential shift in the club’s leadership structure as pre-season preparations intensify.
On the commercial front, Adidas is set to launch Liverpool’s new 2026-27 away kit on 28 July. The budget-friendly design, priced at €60, features a plain white base complemented by brighter red accents, a simple round collar, and minimalistic cuffs, notably lacking the embossed pattern seen in previous seasons.