After a difficult season in the Premier League last season, Liverpool fans are once again preparing for a new era at Anfield under a different management team.
Arne Slott was handed his marching orders just a few months ago, and Andoni Iraola has since been appointed as the Reds’ new manager until the summer of 2028.
The Spaniard is tasked with returning the club to top-flight glory, but will no doubt need funding from the leaders to support his quest on Merseyside.
Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Muñoz have already put pen to paper about moves to Anfield, but it looks like there will be more movement in and out in the coming months.
The Reds are said to be working hard to give Iraola the reinforcements he needs this summer, which could mean the Reds have to spend a fortune again.
Liverpool in talks over record summer transfers
The attacking department is an area that is expected to see significant improvement at Liverpool this summer, and will subsequently be strengthened with the aforementioned signing of Spanish star Munoz.
PSG winger Bradley Barcola has always been mentioned as a transfer target and the Frenchman could be a star at Anfield for years to come.
However, Luis Enrique’s side are reluctant to let go of the 23-year-old and are said to be demanding more than £110m to part with the young attacking talent.
Barcola isn’t the only forward option the Reds are currently eyeing, with Aston Villa winger Morgan Rodgers also attracting attention in recent days.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have held talks with Aston Villa to keep them informed about the player’s availability after he could leave the West Midlands this summer.
The paper also notes that Arsenal are also among the clubs eyeing the England international and could be seen as the perfect team to sign his signature ahead of the 2026/27 season.
However, any deal would cost a significant amount over this period, with Unai Emery’s side demanding a higher transfer fee than Elliott Anderson’s £116m fee to set a new England record.
Why Rodgers is a better deal than Diomande for Liverpool
Mohamed Salah’s departure from Liverpool this summer has only heightened the need for additional attacking reinforcements ahead of Iraola’s first season as manager.
At one point it looked like Yann Diomande was the Reds’ number one target, but the bosses were willing to spend more than £100m on the RB Leipzig youngster.
The Ivorian made an incredible breakthrough last season, finishing his first season in the Bundesliga with 12 goals and eight assists.
However, in recent weeks the 19-year-old has said he is not interested in moving to Merseyside this summer after hearing interest from Champions League winners PSG.
Most combined G+A in Bundesliga (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
player | tally |
harry kane | 41 |
michael orise | 34 |
Luis Diaz | 29 |
Deniz Undav | twenty five |
Christoph Baumgartner | twenty one |
Yann Diomand | 20 |
Andrei Kramaric | 20 |
Patrick Thicke | 19 |
Considering the effort that went into securing his services, losing Diomand to the French team will undoubtedly be a blow to Iraola and its ranks.
It could be a blessing in disguise for the Reds, especially if they can secure a move for Rodgers this summer – the Englishman already has significant experience at the top level.
The 23-year-old also outperformed the Leipzig star in key areas, making him an even bigger talent for Iraola’s side ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Described as “incredible” by teammate Matty Cash, Rodgers finished the season with a total of 25 goals and assists in all competitions. This number exceeds Diomande’s record.
Such a record, coupled with his high shooting accuracy on target and 0.3 goals per 90, will definitely make him an all-round threat in the attacking area.
Even without the ball, Villa’s attackers were dominant, winning aerial duels and winning the ball back in the final third more than 90 times.
The latter of the aforementioned numbers is crucial to Iraola’s system, with the Spaniard likely to demand intense pressure without the ball during his time at Anfield.
£130m for Rodgers’ contract is a mind-boggling sum, but it’s a move that could give Liverpool a long-term solution to their problems in attacking areas.
Diomande may remain many fans’ first choice this summer, but a move for Villa’s star could be the right move if the club is to challenge for another Premier League title next season.
