Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has acknowledged the need for further reinforcements as the club prepares for the 2026/27 season.
At his introductory press conference, the 44-year-old noted that additional signings are required, despite the arrivals of Jeremy Jacquet from Stade Rennais for £55 million and Víctor Muñoz from Osasuna for £34.5 million. The club has also seen Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson, and Ibrahima Konaté depart.
Iraola, appointed on a two-year contract last month, stated that the club is actively working to strengthen the squad.
“Obviously we’ve signed two players already, but we need more players—we know this,” he told reporters.
“The club is working on this. As a coach, selfishly, I’d like to have everyone here from day one for pre-season, but football doesn’t always work like that. I know the club is working hard on those signings, and I’m trying to help as well.”
Liverpool enter the new campaign following a disappointing fifth-place Premier League finish last season, which resulted in Arne Slot’s departure just one year after winning the league title.
When asked about expectations for the upcoming season, Iraola declined to set specific targets but acknowledged the squad faces significant challenges.
“We have to accept that we’re in a difficult situation,” he said. “We’ve lost several important senior players who achieved almost everything here, and we’ve also got key players dealing with injuries.”
Iraola revealed that Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni are all facing extended periods out due to injury, presenting Liverpool with further challenges ahead of the season.
“We haven’t even started training and already Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni have long-term injuries. We must replace key players who contributed significantly, and we also need solutions while those three recover.
I’m confident they’ll be key players for us in the long term, but especially in Hugo’s case, we’ll need to manage without them for some time.
Iraola also addressed the relationship with Liverpool supporters, expressing his desire to rebuild the strong connection that many fans felt was lacking late last season.
Having experienced Anfield’s atmosphere as Bournemouth manager, he said he understands the impact of the supporters and wants his team to earn their backing through strong performances.
“I’d like to give the supporters a team they can be proud of,” he said.
“Liverpool is about connection—connecting with the fans. I’ve experienced Anfield from the other side, and you can feel the power of the stadium.
“I’d love to experience that every time we play, but it has to come from what we do on the pitch. We need to be a team that works hard, plays with intensity, aggression and purpose so the fans can identify with us and enjoy supporting this team.”
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