Iraola: Liverpool need more signings after Edwards exit and player departures

Andoni Iraola used his first press conference as Liverpool head coach to make clear he wants reinforcements at Anfield as soon as possible, with the club still light on incomings despite a summer of significant departures.

The Basque coach was formally unveiled on Monday, days after Liverpool confirmed that Michael Edwards, the club’s respected sporting director, was leaving Anfield for a second time. His exit comes at an awkward moment for the Merseyside club, who have already said goodbye to Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate since the end of last season.

Only two new faces so far

So far this summer Liverpool have brought in just Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz, leaving Iraola with a threadbare group compared with previous windows under Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot. Asked directly about the club’s recruitment plans, the new head coach did not shy away from the subject.

“Obviously we’ve signed two players already but we need more players. We know this. The club is working on this,” Iraola said. “Me, as a coach, selfishly, you want the players here on day one, ready to train for pre-season.”

He added: “But we understand that football doesn’t work like this and I know that the club is working hard to get those signings.”

Edwards departure adds to the uncertainty

Edwards’ second exit as Liverpool’s transfer chief leaves a notable void just as Iraola tries to shape his first squad in England. The 45-year-old spent years building the recruitment model that underpinned Liverpool’s success under Klopp before returning briefly in a senior role, and his second departure has raised fresh questions about who will drive incomings this summer.

Iraola’s press conference also touched on his footballing philosophy and how he intends to set up his new side, following his reputation for high-intensity, front-foot football built at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth. Liverpool have not detailed a permanent replacement for Edwards, though the club maintains that transfer business remains ongoing behind the scenes.

With pre-season training now under way, Iraola’s comments underline the scale of the rebuilding job facing Liverpool this summer, both on the pitch following the loss of established first-team players and in the boardroom after Edwards’ exit disrupted the club’s usual recruitment machinery.

Read more: Man Utd closing in on £36m deal for Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans

Sources

• The Independent
• Sky Sports

This is an independent report written from the facts across the sources named above.