The Hard Tackle lists three players Liverpool should pursue this summer after appointing Andoni Iraola as the new head coach.
Liverpool’s new direction under Andoni Iraola already feels like the start of something sharper, younger and more intense. With Arne Slot gone after a miserable follow-up campaign to his title-winning debut, the Reds now have the chance to build a squad that better fits a high-tempo manager and the new demands of the modern game.
The Merseyside outfit have officially confirmed that Iraola will take charge ahead of the 2026/27 season after three impressive years at Bournemouth, where he helped them reach Europe for the first time ever. The club’s statement also underlines why he is viewed as such an exciting appointment; he is forward-looking, ambitious and clearly comfortable working at the top level.
That matters because Liverpool need more than a simple reset. Slot’s second season became increasingly flat, with his side slipping to fifth in the Premier League table and struggling for rhythm, leading to a change the club felt was necessary. Iraola, by contrast, brings a style that is energetic, demanding, and aggressive, the kind of football that keeps everyone switched on and leaves little room for passengers.
It is easy to see why the departing Mohamed Salah has spoken so highly of forward-thinking managers in the past, because Iraola fits that description neatly. His approach is expansive rather than cautious, and that makes this summer a real opportunity for Liverpool to add players who can thrive in an intense, attacking system. With that in mind, we look at three players who the former Premier League champions should pursue to set the tone for Iraola.
Tyler Adams
Tyler Adams is exactly the kind of player who can make a chaotic team feel organised. The 27-year-old is not a headline-grabbing superstar, but his value lies in the way he covers ground, breaks up play, and allows others to attack with freedom, which is a big part of what Iraola would want from his midfield.
The American midfielder’s 2025/26 numbers show a player who still does plenty of the hard work. While Adams will not bring the glamour, he will bring useful all-round output, which is important for a Liverpool side that will need balance if Iraola pushes the tempo higher. Additionally, his presence in the middle of the park will allow Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai to express themselves freely.
What makes Adams even more attractive is his versatility. The former Leeds United midfielder can operate as a holding midfielder, a deeper shuttler, or even as part of a double pivot, which will give Liverpool tactical flexibility in games where control matters as much as intensity. He is also still young enough to improve, which means he would arrive before his peak and offer value over several seasons.
The problem, of course, is that the Merseyside outfit would not be alone in liking him. Chelsea and Manchester United are also reportedly in the mix, and that kind of competition can quickly turn a sensible move into a drawn-out chase. If Iraola wants Adams, Liverpool may need to move early and decisively.
Yan Diomande
Yan Diomande brings a different flavour entirely, and that is what makes him such a compelling target. The Ivorian winger is the sort of attacker who can stretch a defence, carry the ball at speed and produce the kind of raw numbers that often separate promising players from truly useful ones.
The 2025/26 season was a breakout campaign for the teenage prospect, with 12 goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga. Those figures suggest a player who is already making an impact rather than simply being talked about as a future prospect, and that matters when a club like Liverpool are looking to compete immediately.
The youngster’s age profile also fits the brief. He is still moving towards his best years, which gives Liverpool the chance to sign a player whose value could rise sharply if he settles quickly in England. Under Iraola, that kind of profile makes sense because the manager tends to reward pace, pressing and directness, all of which should suit a forward who attacks space naturally. With the Reds struggling to fill Luis Diaz’s void this past season, the Ivory Coast intenational may be just what the doctor ordered.
However, there will be no shortage of interest, though. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United are all expected to circle, and that creates a very difficult market for Liverpool to navigate. If the Reds want Diomande, they may have to sell the project as much as the football.
Francisco Trincao
Francisco Trincao may be the most intriguing name on the list because he offers a blend of craft and flexibility. The 26-year-old is not simply a winger who stays wide and waits for the ball; he can drift inside, link play and help build attacks, which would suit a Liverpool side that is likely to ask its forwards to do more than one job.
His 2025/26 figures for Sporting CP were impressive, with 13 goals and 18 assists in 54 outings, which points to a player who can influence matches without needing everything to run through him. For a manager like Iraola, that kind of multi-functional attacker can be gold, especially if the aim is to keep the front line fluid and unpredictable.
Trincao also fits the age profile Liverpool should be chasing. The former Barcelona winger is still in the stage where a move to a bigger stage could unlock another level, and his experience in Portugal and Spain gives him a degree of maturity that can be hard to find in younger attackers. In a team built around Salah and a high-tempo structure, he could offer control in the final third as well as end product.
The competition is likely to be less crowded than for some of the others, but it is still there. Manchester United are also expected to be involved, and that could make any bid more complicated than it first appears. Even so, Trincao feels like the kind of player Iraola could shape into something useful very quickly.
Honourable Mentions
Nico Schlotterbeck would give Liverpool defensive authority and passing quality from the back, making him a strong fit for a manager who wants to build from a solid base. El Hadji Malick Diouf offers energy and attacking thrust from wide defensive areas, while Alex Scott and Noah Sadiki both fit the age and upside profile that makes long-term squad building easier. These names may not be the main event, but they underline how broad the Merseyside club’s recruitment options could be under Iraola.
