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Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has said he cannot promise that Cody Gakpo will still be at Anfield after the summer transfer deadline. The Netherlands international has become a leading target for Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City as the window heads into its final hectic days.

Uncertainty remains over Gakpo's future

The Netherlands forward, who arrived at Liverpool in January 2023 and has netted 51 goals in 181 appearances in all competitions for the Reds, has attracted strong interest from Tottenham Hotspur throughout the summer window, while Manchester City are also understood to be keeping tabs on the 27-year-old attacker. With Liverpool working to complete a club-record move for Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola, the possibility of Gakpo leaving is now a very real one.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest at Anfield, the Spanish coach said: "When the market is open, you cannot guarantee anything with anyone. We don't know who will arrive. Cody is playing very well for us. He's been very good since he came from the World Cup. I'd like to know how the market finishes, but at the moment I don't know what's going to happen. I can smell who we're going to sign and what positions but experience shows you that if there's an opportunity on the last day, you think: If it's going to improve us, then let's take it."

Liverpool closing in on Barcola

Liverpool seem to have identified their main attacking addition after reaching an outline agreement with PSG for Barcola. The breakthrough came in talks on Wednesday evening, with the Reds ready to pay an initial amount of just over £100 million. The overall package could rise to around £120 million once performance-related add-ons are included.

Still, with small points of the payment structure yet to be settled, Iraola refused to say much about Barcola's expected arrival: "You know that we are trying to sign in this position and you know we cannot talk about players who right now are not ours," Iraola said when asked about the Frenchman. "We are trying to fill that position as right now we don't have the numbers. I hope to have good news soon but we are still not there."

Midfield additions still not ruled out

The 2-2 draw against Newcastle United last weekend led to debate among the Anfield supporters over the squad's depth, especially after a quiet summer window in which only Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, Victor Munoz from Osasuna, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Wien have joined the club so far, along with Curtis Jones leaving for Inter. Iraola admitted that although strengthening the attack is the immediate priority, the club could still do more business if the right chance comes up.

"Ideally" is the magic word," Iraola said while discussing possible arrivals. "There are certain things you can do and certain things you don't know if you can do. It's true that the priority has been to strengthen the wide areas. I'm sure if we can improve other areas then we will. But I don't know how the market is going to finish. I have to be patient, the same as you. It's uncomfortable for me because we're dealing with uncertainties. In four or five days then we can make proper plans. On September 1, we will know the options that we have."

Squad rotation and fringe players

With the deadline nearing, there is also uncertainty over the futures of Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott, both of whom were left out of the matchday squad against Newcastle. Chiesa is recovering from a minor muscle problem picked up in training, while Elliott appears to be battling for game time under the new setup.

"Different circumstances," the manager said about the two players. "Fede is not available, he felt something against Como. With Harvey, I can only choose 20. It's about finding the right balance on the bench. In Harvey's case, he's trying and improving every week but still I prefer other options. I decided to put James McConnell in the squad. This is a new week with new chances for everyone and they have to keep that mentality."