Andoni Iraola, Liverpool's new head coach, spent day four of the World Cup on a fact-finding mission in Dallas, watching the players he has inherited and scouting potential additions to refresh a squad that suffered a miserable defence of the Premier League title under sacked Arne Slot.
Florian Wirtz, the German forward who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen last summer for a then-British record £116m, fell far short of expectations in his first Anfield campaign. But against Curacao—a side ranked 82nd in the world—Wirtz played on the left and created Germany's opening goal for Felix Nmecha with a delicate touch. He had 39 touches in the final third as Germany won 7-1.
“Andoni Iraola uses World Cup to scout Wirtz and Barcola as he plots Liverpool revival.”
"He looked happy in a German jersey, at ease and playing with freedom," former England striker Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live from Houston. "He was sharp off the left, drifting inside to play quick, incisive passes. He was creative and cunning. He looked unburdened."
Iraola will hope to lift the weight off Wirtz's shoulders. The 23-year-old too often appeared a square peg in a round hole last season, playing behind strikers and on the flanks without ever flourishing. With Cody Gakpo also poor on the left, Wirtz's performance may give Iraola food for thought.
The new manager will also welcome centre-back Jeremy Jacquet this summer but wants more new faces. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate and Rhys Williams are all leaving Anfield. Robertson has already moved to Tottenham. With Salah leaving after nine years, wide forward positions are a priority, and Federico Chiesa could also depart, freeing space for two new attacking additions.
Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola is ready to leave the Parc des Princes, according to talkSPORT. Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with the French international, who scored 13 goals last season but started from the bench in PSG's Champions League quarter-final, semi-final and final victories. A fee of around £60m has been mooted, and Barcola is in France's World Cup squad.
Iraola also knows Brazilian winger Rayan from Bournemouth, where the 19-year-old delivered five goals and two assists in his first 15 Premier League appearances. Rayan has a £130m release clause at Bournemouth and scored his first senior international goal in a warm-up friendly against Panama. He is in Brazil's World Cup squad.
As Iraola settles in, his task is clear: find a settled position for Wirtz, and decide which of the World Cup stars to pursue.