After the disappointing end to Arne Slot’s tenure as Liverpool boss, there’s a real need for a feel-good factor to be injected into the fanbase ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Andoni Iraola’s appointment signals the start of a new era at Anfield, but the Spaniard will no doubt have huge expectations to deliver the goods in the Premier League.
If he is to match the supporters’ demands for domestic and continental success, he will need added support from FSG in the transfer market to bolster the Reds’ attacking department.
Their heavy investment last summer saw countless big-money additions move to Anfield, but the new boss will have to be patient and wait to call upon one of his talents.
When Hugo Ekitike could return to action for Liverpool
In an attempt to overhaul the club’s attacking department last year, Liverpool forked out a reported £79m including add-ons for the signature of striker Hugo Ekitiké.
The French international made an impressive start to life on Merseyside, subsequently registering 17 goals in his first 45 appearances across all competitions.
However, he’s been missing since early April after suffering an achilles injury during the Champions League quarter-final second-leg defeat to former side, PSG.
The 24-year-old has since undergone surgery to fix such an issue, but it could yet be a while before Iraola is able to call upon the talisman following his appointment.
|
Hugo Ekitiké’s Liverpool record so far |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Tally |
|
Games played |
45 |
|
Goals scored |
17 |
|
Assists |
6 |
|
Minutes played |
2800 |
|
Yellow cards |
1 |
|
Red cards |
1 |
He’s since been named as part of the Reds’ 31-man travelling squad for the tour of the USA – but the supporters may need to scale back their expectations.
It’s been reported Ekitike has only been selected to continue his rehab with the club’s medical staff and will play no part in any of the friendlies against Sunderland, Wrexham or Leeds United.
It’s unlikely that the attacker will feature again in 2026, with a return to action likely to occur towards the back end of the 2026/26 campaign – which could take his total period on the sideline to nine months.
How Liverpool can land a player just like Ekitike & Isak
As part of their recruitment drive last summer, Liverpool also completed the British-record deal of £125m for striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.
However, like Ekitike, the Swedish international spent an extended period on the sidelines after breaking his leg – subsequently restricting him to just 22 appearances across all competitions.
Both big-money additions undoubtedly still have a huge future ahead of them on Merseyside and could be partnered by winger Bradley Barcola in the years ahead.
It’s been reported in France that Iraola’s side are set to step up their interest in the PSG attacker and are preparing an offer for the French international this summer.
It is claimed that the aforementioned bid is in the region of £85m, with the hierarchy making the 23-year-old one of the club’s top attacking targets this window.
On the face of it, many would presume Liverpool are making an unnecessary addition, but they would be landing a player who has all the qualities to put an end to the heavy spending on Merseyside.
He would emulate Isak in joining the Reds for a mammoth sum, whilst also copying Ekitike in departing the French club to take his professional career to the next level.
Whilst Barcola would cost a pretty penny this summer, his stats from the recent campaign highlight his elite-level skillset and demonstrate why he’s the perfect player for Iraola’s system.
The 23-year-old ended the recent campaign on a staggering 21 combined goals and assists – with only Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai registering more at Anfield.
Such numbers demonstrate his talent in front of goal and could see him emulate the success of his compatriot during his own first season on Merseyside after a big-money transfer.
Barcola also achieved an average of 1.6 shots on target per 90 and a shot on target accuracy rate of 46% – both of which ranked him in the top 10% of all attackers in Europe.
His relentless nature within attacking areas will be music to the ears of Iraola, as the Spaniard craves players who possess serious quality in possession whilst having a nouse to regain the ball.
The Frenchman has just that, as further reflected by his tally of 0.6 big chances created per 90 and 1.2 times possession won in the final third per 90 in Ligue 1.
Both rank him in the top 5% of all attackers in Europe’s top-five leagues and back up Emmanuel Adebayor’s statement that the forward is already “world-class.”
£85m would be yet another statement of intent from FSG this summer, but it would be a move which would secure the Reds a top-level talent for many years to come.
Should he make the move to Merseyside, there’s no reason why the attacker can’t form a deadly partnership with Isak and Ekitike and fire Iraola’s men to sustained success in the near future.
