Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has openly acknowledged that his squad is short of specialist wide attackers ahead of the new campaign — while insisting the club will resolve the situation before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

The Reds had a £50 million offer for Brighton & Hove Albion's Yankuba Minteh turned down this week, and the club have also looked into a potential move for Paris Saint-Germain's Ibrahim Mbaye. Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola remains Liverpool's primary target as they continue to strengthen the flanks.

Iraola's honest assessment

Speaking about the state of the squad, Iraola did not mince his words. "As a manager, this is an easy one for me. I wanted the players for the first day on 13 July — everyone here and all the positions doubled with top-level players," he said.

"I hate these two weeks or these 10 days that we have because there is a lot of uncertainty — but not in Liverpool, everywhere. But we have to adapt."

In a separate conversation with Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports, he was equally candid: "We will definitely sign some players. Some deals you have to wait until the end. But the end is the important picture, the one we will have on September 1. Because it is true that we are still quite thin."

Arrivals and departures

Since Iraola took charge following Arne Slot's departure, Liverpool have brought in Victor Munoz for £34.5 million and Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona. Centre-back Jeremy Jacquet also joined from Rennes in a £60 million deal agreed in January.

On the other side of the ledger, the departures have been significant. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate all left the club over the summer, while Curtis Jones is finalising a £30 million switch to Inter Milan.

Jones heading to Inter Milan

Iraola spoke with warmth about Jones' impending exit. "I value him a lot as a player. He loved this club — it was very clear since the beginning for me — but I understood that probably the outcome was going to be what it has been at the end," the coach said.

"I've never hid it — for me Curtis is a very good player. A very, very good player, but I understood straight away when he talked to me about his situation."

With the window entering its final stretch, the mood inside Anfield is that activity will intensify before the deadline, particularly in wide positions where Iraola has flagged the need is most acute.