CODY'S THE KEY! Liverpool transfer state of play with potential Gakpo exit playing huge part of chaotic end to summer window

Liverpool have found themselves in a very uncertain state with just two days remaining in the summer transfer window. While the deal for Bradley Barcola is wrapped up, there are other major ones hanging in the balance ahead of Tuesday's 11pm deadline.

Barcola will soon officially be a Liverpool player, having undergone a medical on Sunday ahead of a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain worth an initial £106million, plus £17m in add-ons. His arrival on a five-year deal puts on an end Liverpool's main transfer saga and will bolster Andoni Iraola's squad.

The French attacker joins Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo as Liverpool's new signings this summer. Yet he may not be the last new face in the door at Anfield, with the consecutive 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest showing the need for further additions.

There are issues all over the pitch for Iraola to address, but the clock is ticking for deals to be done. Here Mirror Football assesses the lay of the land, with many moving parts for Liverpool.

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Iraola summed up the situation at Liverpool well after the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday. "I cannot tell you anything different right now," he said.

"It's true that there are things going on, like is normal because we are talking about the last weeks of the market, but now we have to wait. I'm looking forward to having the squad [on] September 2, [so we can say] this is who we are and working with certainties.

"Now everything is quite like uncertain and it's the same for every team, but it's how the competition works. Now we have to wait just some [more] days and work with what we have after the market closes."

Iraola is clearly not a fan of the transfer window overlapping with the season. "Honestly, I am looking forward to having who we have and a definitive squad so we can start working with certainties," he added to Match of the Day.

Certainty is something in short supply right now.

Barcola's arrival has been pending for some time, but it is still set to have a major knock-on effect at Anfield. Cody Gakpo has stood out in the first two games of the season, scoring at St James' Park and assisting against Forest, but he could be about to leave.

The Dutchman only signed a new five-year deal with Liverpool last year yet has reportedly decided he wants to join Manchester City, following interest from Tottenham. City, who have just waved goodbye to Savio and Omar Marmoush to Spurs, are currently in talks with Liverpool to agree a fee for the winger, whose favourite position on the left wing is clearly threatened by Barcola's arrival.

Liverpool reportedly want £85m to sell Gakpo to City and are walking a tight rope, given the obvious need for a replacement if he leaves. Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, new signing Munoz - and soon Barcola - are the other options on the wing and the Reds want a replacement if Gakpo is to leave. "You cannot guarantee anything with anyone," Iraola said last week when asked about him.

They have already seen offers of £50m and £60m rejected by Brighton for Yankuba Minteh. That prompted Liverpool to turn their attention to Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr, who has sat out of their matches this season and is reportedly keen to leave Selhurst Park amid interest from Galatasaray too. Palace, however, are desperate to keep hold of their Senegal international, who has three years left on his contract and scored 21 goals in 45 games last season.

Both Minteh and Sarr play in Liverpool's problem position of right wing, where they are most obviously short. Gakpo holds the key. If he leaves then Liverpool will need to pull the trigger and push for Minteh, Sarr - or both.

It's not just in attack where Liverpool are working on deals. As the Liverpool Echo reports, Nottingham Forest's interest in Giorgi Mamardashvili has forced the club to find a possible replacement. Mamardashvili is Alisson's back-up and made 20 appearances last season due to the Brazilian's injury problems but could be tempted to Forest.

Liverpool's talent identification team have therefore flagged Genk goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans as a replacement. The 18-year-old only has four senior appearances for Genk yet has been attracting transfer attention. He is valued at €35m (£30m) and could either arrive as Mamardashvili's replacement, or be signed and loaned back to Genk, depending on developments in the coming hours.

Harvey Elliott has agreed personal terms with Valencia ahead of a loan move. Elliott has attracted plenty of attention after returning from a miserable loan spell at Aston Villa - and it seems Valencia have won the race for his services.

"In Harvey's case, he's trying, he's improving every week, but I still prefer other options," Iraola confirmed before the Newcastle game. Elliott has reportedly held talks with the Liverpool boss in which he asked to leave.

Meanwhile, Stefan Bajcetic is heading back to Celta Vigo in a permanent deal. Liverpool have been negotiating over a transfer fee, as well as a sell-on fee, for the 21-year-old midfielder, who has fallen way down the pecking order. He has not made a appearance for the club since May 2024 and will see his contract expire in June 2027.

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