Every transfer window brings the same conversation.
Who should Liverpool sign?
How many new players are needed?
Which positions require strengthening?
There is no doubt Liverpool still need to add quality in certain areas.
But I believe one point is being overlooked.
Liverpool do not need five new signings.
They need five existing players to reach the level everyone knows they are capable of.
If Andoni Iraola can unlock those players, Liverpool may improve more than any transfer could achieve.
Cody Gakpo
Few players have demonstrated this better than Cody Gakpo.
After an inconsistent club season, he reminded everyone of his quality at the World Cup with goals, assists and performances full of confidence for the Netherlands.
The talent has never been in question.
Perhaps he simply needs a manager whose football allows him to attack defenders with freedom.
Iraola’s aggressive, front-foot style could be exactly what Gakpo has been waiting for.
Ryan Gravenberch
Gravenberch continues to show why Liverpool invested in him.
The Dutch midfielder has all the attributes to become one of the Premier League’s best.
Power.
Athleticism.
Ball-carrying ability.
Composure.
His performances for the Netherlands have reinforced that belief.
If Iraola can add consistency to his game, Liverpool could have a genuinely world-class midfielder.
Jeremie Frimpong
Frimpong has already divided opinion despite barely kicking a competitive ball for Liverpool.
That feels incredibly harsh.
He arrives with enormous attacking quality and is exactly the type of dynamic full-back Iraola has enjoyed working with throughout his coaching career.
Rather than judging him immediately, supporters should wait to see how he performs in a system designed to maximise his strengths.
Stefan Bajčetić
Perhaps no player has more to gain from Iraola’s arrival than Bajčetić.
Injuries have interrupted his development, but his talent has never been questioned.
He possesses intelligence, composure and technical quality beyond his years.
If he can stay fit, Liverpool may already have one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders ready to emerge.
Florian Wirtz
Finally, there is Florian Wirtz.
Many already expect him to become Liverpool’s star player.
The World Cup has shown exactly why.
Creative.
Intelligent.
Fearless.
The challenge now is creating a system that allows him to influence games every week.
If Iraola succeeds, Wirtz could become the heartbeat of Liverpool’s attack for the next decade.
Improvement Can Be Better Than Recruitment
Supporters naturally become excited by new signings.
That will never change.
But football’s best managers are often judged by how much they improve the players already in the building.
Jurgen Klopp transformed numerous players into world-class performers.
Liverpool will now hope Iraola can do the same.
Liverpool’s Squad Is Better Than Many Think
When you look through the squad, the quality is obvious.
Alisson.
Van Dijk.
Mac Allister.
Wirtz.
Isak.
Gakpo.
Gravenberch.
Szoboszlai.
Kerkez.
Frimpong.
That is not a squad requiring a complete rebuild.
It is a squad that needs direction, confidence and consistency.
The Biggest Signing Might Already Be Here
Liverpool will almost certainly complete more transfers before the window closes.
Another centre-back appears likely.
Yan Diomande remains a target.
But perhaps the biggest improvement this season will not come from a new arrival.
It will come from Andoni Iraola helping talented footballers rediscover their very best form.
If Gakpo, Gravenberch, Frimpong, Bajčetić and Wirtz all take significant steps forward next season, Liverpool may not need five new signings after all.
They may already have everything they need.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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