Liverpool news: Andoni Iraola hit with early blow as doubts raised over £112m transfer plan

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Liverpool have already been busy in the summer transfer market. Deals are in place to bring in Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet to strengthen Andoni Iraola's first-team squad, while young defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe is also set to arrive although he is not expected to make an immediate impact as the club manages his development.

More arrivals are sure to follow, although whether Yan Diomande will ultimately be one of them remains to be seen as the club continues to pursue the teenager. The 19-year-old is currently playing at the World Cup with Ivory Coast , who face Curacao at 9pm in their final group-stage game of the tournament.

Liverpool currently have a number of stars representing their countries across the Atlantic, including captain Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister . However, their continued participation in the World Cup could spell trouble for Iraola as he begins to start his first preseason.

The new Liverpool boss is hoping to kick off preparations for the 2026/27 Premier League season in July, but a problem could emerge with those plans. Here, Mirror Football has all the latest coming out of Anfield.

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Iraola will likely have to wait longer to work with a full Liverpool squad due to the demands of the World Cup. The Reds have eight representatives at the tournament, including new signing Victor Munoz.

Due to recent results, Spain , Germany , the Netherlands , Argentina , Brazil and Sweden all have the opportunity to progress further into the knockout rounds. Germany and Argentina have already confirmed their spot in the next stage of the tournament, meaning Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister will play further matches heading into July.

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Iraola is expected to begin preseason training around Monday, July 13, as he aims to bring silverware and success back to Anfield this campaign. But there is a strong possibility that all eight stars could at least miss out on the beginning of the preparations for the new season.

This may well include Liverpool's three-game tour of the United States , which begins with a friendly against Sunderland on July 25. This is because the Reds recently employed a policy allowing players to take three weeks off once they have finished participating in major tournaments with their national teams.

With the round of 16 in the World Cup beginning on July 4, there is a strong possibility that any players who make it this far with their teams will not play any part in the US tour. The new boss may need to wait until the beginning of August to have a full complement to choose from before the season begins.

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Jamie Carragher has warned Liverpool to consider whether Yan Diomande is "worth" signing this summer, given the club's recent track record of expensive acquisitions. It was revealed last week that the Reds were offering €100million (£86m) for the winger, who is also a target for Paris Saint-Germain.

But it is now said that RB Leipzig won't budge for anything less than €130m (£112m), as per The Athletic . Last summer, Liverpool splashed the cash in the transfer window as they spent an eye-watering £446m on signings, including £125m on Alexander Isak.

Other new faces included Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Giovanni Leoni, Armin Pesci and Freddie Woodman. Now, Carragher has cautioned his former club to think carefully about spending money on what he sees as "potential" rather than proven worth.

He told Sky Sports : "I thought he [Diomande] was fantastic in the first game of the World Cup. Less so in the second game, but still was a real danger. I think what you'd be buying is potential, it's not what he is right now. He's a 19-year-old kid, he's a young man. But when you look at him physically, he looks like he's got all those attributes.

"You think of the success Liverpool have had in the past with powerful, quick, wide men. You think of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, especially those two. He certainly looks like he's got those type of traits. That's a big thing that Liverpool lacked last season, pace in those wide areas.

"They've already got a signing in now from Spain, from Osasuna, Victor Munoz. Maybe they want a little bit of pace on the other side as well. I think it's pretty obvious where Liverpool were lacking last season. That looks like where they're going in the market. But is he worth it? Time will tell.

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