Liverpool boss Iraola hoping for good news as Reds reportedly agree Barcola deal

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ath-bilbao/IP5zl0cJ/"]Athletic[/a] ‌reported earlier on Thursday that the clubs had agreed terms on a deal for the France ‌forward worth around £120 million, with over £100 million guaranteed.[/p][p]The 23-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barcola-bradley/lhGD3RgS/"]Barcola[/a], part ‌of France's squad at the World Cup, joined [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]PSG[/a] in 2023 and has made ‌152 appearances for the European champions, scoring 39 goals and providing ‌37 assists.[/p][p]If the move goes through, Barcola would strengthen [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a]'s attacking ranks alongside British record signing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isak-alexander/p41IV42c/"]Alexander Isak[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gakpo-cody/pWyuBud0/"]Cody Gakpo[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ngumoha-rio/rejpF30d/"]Rio Ngumoha[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/munoz-victor/EBMXXrd3/"]Victor Munoz[/a].[/p][p]The club are seeking additional firepower after ‌the departure of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salah-mohamed/08FBycgB/"]talisman Mohamed Salah[/a], while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ekitike-hugo/ltVXPlJU/"]Hugo ⁠Ekitike[/a] is sidelined with a long-term ‌injury.[/p][p][b]Asked about Liverpool's pursuit of Barcola and the need to add wide players, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/iraola-andoni/xpALVpwq/"]Iraola[/a] told ​reporters: "As you know, we are trying to sign in that position (winger), and as you know we cannot talk about players that - right ​now - are not ours.[/b][/p][p][b]"But it is evident that we are trying to improve or trying to fill that position because we don't have the numbers. I ⁠hope we can have ​good news soon, but we are still not there."[/b][/p][embed guid="fa32fdc7-6887-4cb6-942c-82cadd69a935" url="https://x.com/LFC/status/2092952110287503422" social-type="twitter" /][p]Gakpo's future has also been the subject of speculation, with British media linking the Netherlands forward with moves to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham Hotspur[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a].[/p][p]The 27-year-old has been impressive in pre-season and scored ‌in Liverpool's 2-2 draw at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle United[/a] in their opener.[/p][p][b]"Very good attitude and I hope we can keep him at that level because I think he has been very influential in our games," Iraola said of Gakpo.[/b][/p][p][b]"When the market is open, we have almost 30 players, you cannot guarantee anything with anyone..."[/b][/p][h2]Special moment[/h2][p]Liverpool parted ways with Arne Slot and appointed former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a] boss Iraola after a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Premier League last season.[/p][p]The 44-year-old Spaniard will take charge of the team at Anfield in a competitive home match ‌for the first time when they host [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nottingham/UsushcZr/"]Nottingham Forest[/a] on Saturday.[/p][p][b]"It is definitely ​a special moment for me," Iraola said. "I already felt it in ‌pre-season.[/b][/p][p][b]"When the competition starts for me, I will be thinking of the game and the things I need to think of. But it is going to be emotional and I think it has to be like this.[/b][/p][p][b]"It is a special place. I had to fight a lot to ⁠arrive to this place, and I ⁠hope everything goes well and I ‌can enjoy the game."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/liverpool-lId4TMwf/nottingham-UsushcZr/?mid=CYJLO78D"]Follow the game with Flashscore.[/a][/p]