Andoni Iraola demands more Liverpool transfers from FSG as boss teases U-turn | Football | Sport

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has demanded more transfers from the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, before the season begins. The Spanish coach replaced Arne Slot last month but has so far completed just one signing. Spain winger Victor Munoz became his first arrival, joining from Osasuna in a £34.5million deal. Jeremy Jacquet has also arrived at the club after he was signed from Rennes in January and loaned back to the Ligue 1 club for the remainder of the campaign.

But the Reds’ squad has lost depth after long-serving icons Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson left as free agents, before it was confirmed that Ibrahima Konate would also depart on a free transfer. Robertson has since joined Tottenham, Konate will become a Real Madrid player and Salah is on the hunt for a new club. And Iraola is eager for more fresh faces after the arrivals of Munoz and Jacquet, who both celebrated their birthday today (Monday) as they turned 23 and 21 respectively.

“We’ve signed two players, we need more, we know this,” said Iraola this morning at his first press conference as Liverpool boss. “We are working on this. As a coach I want the players here from day one, selfishly, but we know it doesn’t work like this, we’re working hard for those signings.”

And Iraola teased that Harvey Elliott, who is back at Liverpool following a torrid loan spell at Aston Villa last season, could get a chance to revive his career at Anfield.

His time at Villa saw the attacking midfielder, 23, manage just nine appearances because of a dispute over clauses in his loan deal and whether his temporary move to Villa Park would be made permanent.

It was thought Elliott’s time on Merseyside was over. But asked if Elliott will feature in his plans, Iraola replied: “Definitely.

“Harvey is here with us, I have seen him with the eagerness to show up, get super ready. He’ll have a chance in pre-season, we’ll need him and it’s a good sign. I hope we can see him in a good place.

“Harvey is here with us, I have seen him with the eagerness to show up, get super ready. He’ll have a chance in pre-season, we’ll need him and it’s a good sign. I hope we can see him in a good place.

“I think Harvey comes from last season had to be difficult for him, strange situation, they couldn’t even play him and I think he uses this experience – the bad situation – to make himself even more eager to be a Liverpool player.”

Iraola added: “I talked to the players and the staff on things we’re working well on and what we want to do differently, not better, different.

“I have the advantage, the players know what we want to demand in terms of style of play. I ask players where they are comfortable, so I can understand it. I see them train, make some tests in pre-season and then take decisions from that.”