REDS READY TO SPEND! Liverpool transfer state of play on Sarr deal, £120m Barcola agreement and Iraola on Gakpo exit ahead of deadline day

Andoni Iraola concedes he "cannot guarantee anything" when it comes to Cody Gakpo's future as Liverpool close in on the signing of Bradley Barcola with their recruitment drive still in full swing.

The Reds have been chasing the Frenchman all summer, but PSG's price tag has proved the biggest stumbling block. A deal now looks to have been agreed, with Barcola potentially moving to Anfield in a deal worth £120million.

It represents another huge investment in the Liverpool forward line, 12 months after Alexander Isak joined for £125million and Florian Wirtz signed for £116m.

Liverpool went from champions to fifth last season and their squad, despite the mammoth spend on it, doesn't look well equipped, nor well balanced enough, to mount a title charge. Barcola's potential arrival does represent a major coup, adding yet more attacking quality.

Get our comprehensive football coverage, with news, updates, opinions, analysis and everything that matters to you, straight to your inbox.

To get it, it's a quick and easy one-two:

1. Head THIS WAY

The deal has not been finalised, with last details still being discussed, but there has been a breakthrough in negotiations. PSG had been asking for around £145m for the France international, who is not even a starter in the French capital when Luis Enrique has all his options fit.

Barcola himself is keen on a move away and it seems as if the back-to-back Champions League winners have softened their stance regarding his value.

Gakpo, signed under Jurgen Klopp, was a standout for Liverpool in their Premier League opener and scored in their draw at Newcastle. Barcola's potential arrival could put his starting XI spot at risk with the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City keen.

Last season the Dutchman only scored nine times, but that did follow two successive seasons when he was in double digits. Nevertheless, with new names on the club's radar Iraola refused to confirm the former PSV man would stay at Anfield beyond this summer.

He said: "I can say what I said last week, and even after the performance he had in the first game. He is playing very well for us, he has been very good since he came back from the World Cup and after the holidays, a good attitude and I hope we can keep him at that level because he has been very influential.

"When the market is open you cannot guarantee anything with anyone. When I arrived I would like to know how the market finishes and then when you finish with this one and this one but I don't know what is going to happen with any of our players. I cannot guarantee anything. You think I can smell who we are going to sign or what position but experience shows you that, if there is an opportunity on the last day, let's take it."

Talking of opportunities, Liverpool are not simply looking at a possible one in, one out involving Barcola and Gakpo - they're still very much pursuing Ismaila Sarr, reports the Independent, after seeing an initial offer of £50m rejected by Crystal Palace.

Iraola's desire to add quality in attack is obvious with the Reds eyeing up Brighton's Yankuba Minteh only recently, but they've since pivoted to Sarr with the Seagulls rejecting their offer. The Senegal international is capable of playing on the right - an area Liverpool want to strengthen following the summer exit of Mohamed Salah.

The desire to add quality in the final third could leave the new Reds' boss with some major selection dilemmas. Liverpool's major investments in Isak and Wirtz has somewhat backed them into a corner, with Iraola needing to find ways of getting the most from the duo.

Barcola could fall into the same category if they do indeed spend £120m on him, which would make him the club's second most expensive signing ever.

Hugo Ekitike, currently out injured, was the big success of last summer's window but is vying for a position with Isak. Even if Gakpo does leave, Liverpool would still have Rio Ngumoha, who is the club's bright young hope and Victor Munoz on their books.

Sarr would be another name into the mix, potentially leaving Iraola with the the Palace winger, Isak, Wirtz, Barcola, Ekitike, Ngumoha and Munoz as players he needs to keep happy.

Sky's Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts.