Liverpool have already strengthened their attack with the signing of Osasuna winger Victor Munoz this summer, but further reinforcements are required to offset the loss of Mohamed Salah.
Andoni Iraola has arrived from Bournemouth with his own vision for the squad, beginning his tenure at Anfield by bringing compatriot Munoz to Merseyside.
The 22-year-old forward has joined the Reds in a deal reportedly worth £40million, and while he should help ease the impact of Salah’s departure, replacing the Egyptian’s remarkable output will require considerably more firepower.
With that in mind, GIVEMESPORT have identified four attacking players Iraola should consider targeting this summer.
Age: 23
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
With Yan Diomande reportedly eager to join Paris Saint-Germain, a market opportunity could emerge around the French champions. His arrival would leave Luis Enrique with an abundance of wide attacking options, including Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola.
Should Diomande arrive at the Parc des Princes, one player will surely need to make way, and reports indicate that Barcola is the most likely to be sacrificed. Arsenal have been linked with the France international, but Liverpool are also understood to be hugely keen on the player.
Although not always a regular starter last season, Barcola still registered 21 goal contributions across all competitions for the Champions League winners. Blessed with electric pace, exceptional dribbling and intelligent movement, the 23-year-old possesses many of the qualities needed to soften the blow of Salah’s departure, while his ability to play on either flank would make him an ideal fit for Iraola’s attack.
Age: 19
Club: Koln
Rather than pursuing an established star like Barcola, Liverpool could instead target a younger player with the potential to develop into a top-class attacker. FC Koln’s Said El Mala fits that mould, having enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in the Bundesliga last season at just 19 years of age.
A product of Koln’s academy, El Mala scored 13 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions for the newly promoted German outfit. This outstanding return has sparked interest from across Europe, with Liverpool mooted as potential suitors.
The tricky wide man operates primarily off the left, but has been used as a striker and a number ten on a handful of occasions. Completing over two dribbles per 90 minutes (as per FotMob), El Mala would replace Salah’s direct running, while also offering a consistent goal threat from out wide.
Age: 21
Club: Lille
El Mala isn’t the only young winger making waves across Europe to have emerged on Liverpool’s radar. Matias Fernandez-Pardo presents the decision-makers at Anfield with an alternative to the German, and is understood to be available this summer after enjoying an impressive season with Lille.
Netting eight goals and providing seven assists in 2025/26, it was a productive campaign for the Belgian in Ligue 1. Liverpool are keen on Fernandez-Pardo, although he’s said to be valued at a hefty £60 million and is also garnering significant interest from Manchester United and Aston Villa.
On top of this, negotiations over the 21-year-old’s future are likely to be delayed by his participation in the World Cup. Liverpool would therefore need to remain patient, but his underlying creative numbers indicate he has all the attributes to develop into one of Europe’s most exciting wide attackers.
Age: 21
Club: Brighton & Hove Albion
If Liverpool are looking for a Premier League-proven option, then they should look no further than Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh. While the likes of El Mala and Fernandez-Pardo represent exciting options, neither have played at a level as high as the English top flight, and thus, both players would incur an element of risk.
As for Minteh, while his output has flattered to deceive at Brighton, there have been enough flashes of quality from the Gambian for a top club to consider taking a punt on him. Liverpool have added the Seagulls star to their transfer shortlist, and given the south coast club’s track record of sanctioning the departures of their biggest stars, it wouldn’t be a shock to see a deal materialise.
Minteh only scored three goals for Brighton last term, but there is a feeling that he could offer significantly more if surrounded by better players and in a more coherent system. He is an excellent carrier of the ball, which will aid Liverpool’s flailing ball progression, while he has shown a capacity to play the final pass at the end of moves with consistency.
Romano: Liverpool Now ‘Really Keen’ to Sign £115m+ Star From Under Arsenal’s Noses
Liverpool could add to their attack once again this summer as they look to see a big improvement in the final third after last season’s struggles
Arsenal have agreed a £17m deal with Besiktas to sell winger Leandro Trossard, according to The Athletic.
The Gunners claimed their first Premier League title in 22 years by finishing seven points above Manchester City, while they also reached the Carabao Cup and Champions League finals.
Manchester United could sign a Premier League alternative to Mateus Fernandes after missing out on the Portuguese midfielder. The Red Devils are keen to find a replacement for Casemiro this summer, with two midfield signings desired in total, including the early-season signing of Ederson.
It has been a frustrating search from Michael Carrick and Co so far, with Tottenham beating them to West Ham star Fernandes, agreeing to pay £85million. United were said to be willing to pay a similar fee, but Spurs were willing to pay upfront and without any major add-ons, something the Red Devils were not willing to do.
That means the search goes on, and it appears United are not close to securing an alternative at this stage, even if there is a likely candidate.
According to the Daily Mail, United are not close to finding an alternative to Fernandes, now set to reassess their options after missing out. But it’s added the Red Devils are ‘known admirers’ of AFC Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, and they could turn to the England international.
Scott was a vital part of Bournemouth’s superb season of last that saw them qualify for the Europa League, and he almost won a World Cup call-up, serving as the main back-up during the pre-tournament training camp.
Scott is a very different midfielder from Casemiro, and while he is more similar to Fernandes, he arguably has a more attacking frame of mind. From that perspective, it would be a little surprising the Red Devils to go in that route, but Scott is a hard-working midfielder who can also do the dirty work.
Still only 22 years of age, the Cherries are said to be demanding £80million to sell Scott this summer, so it wouldn’t be much of a cheaper compromise from Fernandes for United.
Scott was praised repeatedly last season, and Match of the Day pundit Micah Richards said: “I love him. He’s got everything that a midfielder should have playing in the Premier League. I love his game. He takes a good set-piece but it’s his calmness on the ball. He can pass well and receive the ball between the lines.
“A lot of midfielders hide and don’t want the ball but he’s brave on it. He keeps it moving. Every time I watch him, he’s so confident on the ball.”
Alan Shearer added: “He’s having a brilliant season and standing out in every game. Superb.”
After Fernandes: Man Utd Open Talks to Sign ‘One of the Best CMs in the World’
Manchester United are exploring alternative midfielders after failing with a deal to sign Mateus Fernandes.
Rangers are looking to continue adding to their midfield even after winning the race to sign former Sunderland star Dan Neil, who found himself needing a new club after his contract came to an end. Neil secured back-to-back promotions after spending time on loan with Ipswich Town last season, and he now heads to Ibrox to work under Derek McInnes.
That deal followed a statement goalkeeper signing, with Ivor Pandur arriving from Hull City on a £6million deal, and Rangers are not done there. The Glasgow side know they need to improve the quality of their squad to catch up with Celtic – and perhaps even Hearts – and McInnes is being backed after his summer arrival from Edinburgh.
McInnes still wants more midfield strength even after signing Neil, and according to Rangers Review, Partizan Belgrade skipper Vanja Dragojevic is of interest. With Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande potentially heading out this summer, McInnes will feel he needs adequate depth in the middle.
The report claims 20-year-old Dragojevic is now an option, although a deal may not be easy to reach, given he only signed a new contract last season, theoretically keeping him in place until 2030.
Despite his youth, Dragojevic is Belgrade’s captain, and he is also a two-time Serbia international. Transfermarkt already have the defensive midfielder valued at £6.8million, and given his contract situation and age, the actual price could be more than that.
Rangers have already been busy this summer, snapping up Pandur, Neil Ross McCrorie, Ben Godfrey and Lawrence Shankland. Interestingly, rivals Celtic are yet to make a single signing this summer, although they have given Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a new contract. New boss McInnes clearly has a good idea of where his side need to be, and he should know having led Hearts within a whisker of the title last season. “A lot of the conversations were ongoing before I came in, but obviously getting things over the line isn’t easy,” McInnes told RTV this week.
“People think it is easy to get signings in, but when there are good players involved there’s more than one team involved, so I think the board and the recruitment team should be pleased with their work so far.
“Clearly there’s still more work to do, but we are pleased with the work we have got done and getting the boys in as early as possible for all the reasons I’ve just said is vitally important. Some signings will take a bit longer, which is just the way, but getting them in and familiarising themselves with the club and everybody else is important.”
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