Gakpo out, £70m African forward in: Andoni Iraola's new priority | OneFootball

Liverpool are in the process of shaking up their winger options in the closing stages of the transfer window.

Bradley Barcola jets in this weekend to complete his £123m deal to join the 2024/25 Premier League champions from Paris Saint-Germain.

But the business isn’t stopping there.

Cody Gakpo is moving closer to a sensational £85m deal which would see the Dutchman move to Manchester City. The wisdom of this deal will be revealed in the fullness of time as Gakpo is a known quantity, who has started the season well.

Minteh and Sarr on the radar

But bills need to be paid by sporting director Richard Hughes.

Plans are afoot to sign ANOTHER wideman and in order to finance that deal then Gakpo has got to go.

Who shall it be?

A couple of outside candidates cropped up over the weekend in the shape of Iliman Ndiaye and Jamie Leweling. Nonetheless the two outstanding candidates to arrive are Ismaila Sarr and Yankuba Minteh.

Ismaila Sarr in, Cody Gakpo out

Sarr, 28, is a Crystal Palace winger with the knack of scoring against Liverpool. He was approached for an Anfield deal last week but Palace turned down an offer of around £50m.

Minteh meanwhile would cost over £70m as his club Brighton are digging their heels in over the Gambian.

A report from Senegalese journalist Khadim Diakhaté now claims that Sarr IS the top candidate to arrive. And to get him Liverpool are going to have to go close to £70m in order to convince the UEFA Europa Conference League holders to do business.

Sarr will cost close to £70m

“Ismaïla Sarr: Liverpool steps up for the Senegalese star!” he writes on X.

“Crystal Palace rejected €60M, but the Reds are already preparing an offer of €75 to €80M!

“And the Gakpo situation could unlock everything: if the Dutchman leaves, Liverpool would make Ismaïla Sarr their top priority.”

Expect events to move quickly. The transfer window is closing on Tuesday - giving Liverpool only a couple of days to get these deals over the line.

Liverpool have been using the likes of Gakpo, Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha as their right wing options early in the season. But it’s clear that Andoni Iraola wants a natural in the role.

Minteh is perhaps a closer match for the departed Mohamed Salah as a creative, left-footed option. Sarr would provide something different - a right-footed, right-winger who is also adept at playing a little more inside.