The morning of Saturday 30th May was a quiet one for Liverpool fans until the shocking revelation of Arne Slott’s sacking was confirmed around noon.
The Dutchman struggled to emulate his Premier League title success from his debut season in charge, before only guiding the Reds to fifth place in the 2025/26 season.
As a result, the 47-year-old has been under immense pressure and there have been loud calls from the bosses to part ways with the manager after a post-season review.
The board wasted no time in finding a replacement, with outgoing Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola set to take over as Merseyside manager within days.
The Spaniard’s move provides a much-needed fresh start at Anfield, with the 43-year-old potentially being joined by several new players ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Liverpool progress in talks to sign £85m superstar
Even before Slott was given his marching orders, Liverpool’s bosses had made it a priority to sign a new attacker in the summer transfer window.
PSG winger Bradley Barcola has been mentioned as one of the potential options, with the Frenchman potentially being allowed to leave the Ligue 1 giants during the off-season.
The 23-year-old has taken a backseat to Kviča Kvaratscheria in recent months, with an £87m price tag being mooted ahead of a potential summer surge.
Barcola is not the only attacker the Reds are currently eyeing, with RB Leipzig talent Yann Diomande once again being touted as one of the club’s top transfer targets.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Liverpool have been in talks with the player’s representatives in recent days over a possible move to Anfield.
The paper also reports that Champions League winners PSG are also in the race to sign the Ivorian, who is now said to want a move to the Premier League and Liverpool, where he is guaranteed a starting place.
Any deal would be another big deal for the club, as the Bundesliga side are demanding at least £85m to let the 19-year-old attacker go this summer.
Why Diomande’s arrival at Liverpool is bad news for Ngmoha
One of Slott’s biggest failings as Liverpool manager was his refusal to continue using 17-year-old winger Rio Ngmoha, often favoring Kodi Gakpo on the left side of the attack.
The teenager made an incredible breakthrough at Anfield, scoring a goal off the bench against Newcastle United in August, marking the beginning of his rise to stardom.
He started five games in the Premier League this season, but fans have voiced their displeasure with Slott in recent months, particularly after being substituted in the 67th minute against Chelsea.
Most PL minutes played by U18 talents (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
player | tally |
Matthew Main | 1795 |
Ngumoha River | 560 |
Max Dauman | 157 |
harry howell | 94 |
Jinmu Kasa | 27 |
Bendito Mantato | 16 |
Joel Drakes-Thomas | 9 |
Shumaila Muuka | 2 |
Iraola’s arrival could breathe new life into the teenager on Merseyside next term, but the Spaniard will need to show more faith in the youngster than Slott showed in the 2025/26 season.
However, the transfer of Diomande could result in another setback for the young players, as players who can play on the left and right sides are targeted for high-priced transfers.
He is likely to replace the departed Mohamed Salah on the right flank, but could also play on the opposite flank ahead of Ngmoha.
The Ivorian’s transfer fee will undoubtedly be significant this summer, but it is a deal that will inject much-needed quality into the club’s frontline under the guidance of Iraola.
Described as “unstoppable” by journalist Bence Boksak, Diomande achieved an impressive 4.3 successful dribbles per 90 during the recent Bundesliga campaign.
Such a record was the best of any player in the German top league and subsequently highlighted his incredible ability to easily fend off opponents.
The teenager could also put the finishing touches on his incredible run at Leipzig, as seen in his impressive tally of 20 goals and assists this term.
That figure is higher than any of Anfield’s current first-team squad, and Diomande is a player who could transform the attack under Iraola.
The 19-year-old showed his quality outside of possession, winning the ball back in the final third 1.1 times per 90. This number is higher than 92% of European attackers.
Iraola’s system demands a lot of pressure from opponents, so Diomande could be a key player in a new era on Merseyside in 2026/27.
Paying £85m to sign the winger would certainly be a huge statement from the management that the youngster can be a star at Anfield for many years to come.
A new manager is desperately needed to find the right balance on Merseyside next season and his arrival could push Ngmoha further down the pecking order.
However, Diomande’s pending transfer will likely restore much-needed excitement to the fan base after a disappointing 2025/26 season under the recently departed Slott.
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