Liverpool's Winger Spree Leaves Iraola's Midfield Exposed

Liverpool are tearing into a summer rebuild out wide and at the back, but right through the middle a problem is quietly growing for Andoni Iraola.

While the club push ahead with an aggressive move for Paris Saint-Germain pair Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, and bed in new defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo, the midfield is being stripped back. Curtis Jones is edging towards Inter Milan. Stefan Bajcetic is in talks over a return to Spain. And, for now at least, there is no replacement in sight.

Wingers and defenders in, midfielders out

Liverpool’s recruitment drive has been clear: add pace and depth on the flanks. Victor Munoz is already through the door. If Barcola and Mbaye follow from PSG, Iraola will have three new wingers to reshape his attack.

At the back, the club have moved just as decisively. Jacquet, outstanding in the final pre-season friendly against Como on Sunday, has joined permanently. Araujo has arrived on loan, bolstering the heart of the defence and giving Iraola more options for the high-intensity style he favours.

Through all of that, the message from inside the club has been consistent: there are no current plans to sign a central midfielder.

That stance now looks increasingly risky.

Getafe move for Bajcetic gathers pace

On Monday, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Getafe have opened talks to sign 21-year-old Stefan Bajcetic from Liverpool, with the “formula being discussed”. Whether that means a loan or a permanent transfer has not yet been clarified.

The player is ready to go home if Liverpool give the green light. Matteo Moretto reported last month that Bajcetic is keen on a return to Spain and that Iraola is a big admirer, with Rayo Vallecano and Getafe among the clubs interested.

“Iraola likes him a lot. Several teams in Spain want him: Rayo Vallecano, Getafe,” Moretto said. “But Iraola wants to keep him for now; he wants to see him during pre-season.

“If he stays, he’ll renew his contract with Liverpool. If not, he’ll look for another club. He wants to return to Spain.”

The contract situation sharpens the decision. Bajcetic’s current deal at Anfield runs out next summer. A loan would only make sense if he first signs an extension; otherwise Liverpool risk losing him for nothing. The alternative is brutal but simple: cash in now and sell him to Getafe.

Either way, Iraola is staring at the prospect of losing one of his few young central options.

Jones closing on San Siro switch

On the other side of midfield, Curtis Jones is pushing hard for a fresh start. The academy graduate is determined to leave his boyhood club and join Serie A champions Inter Milan.

Two major obstacles have fallen in quick succession.

Liverpool have lowered their asking price from £34m to £30m, bringing it closer to Inter’s reach. The Italian side had previously lodged a £26m bid earlier in the window and are now expected to come back with an improved offer.

At the same time, Inter needed to clear space and funds. That meant moving Davide Frattesi on before going again for Jones. That domino has now toppled, with Frattesi loaned to Lazio on a deal that includes an option to buy.

With the fee gap narrowing and Inter’s midfield reshaped, the path is suddenly clear for Jones to swap Anfield for San Siro.

A midfield running on fumes

If both deals go through and Liverpool wave goodbye to Jones and Bajcetic, Iraola will be left with just five recognised central midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Trey Nyoni.

On paper, that quintet has quality and variety. Mac Allister’s control, Szoboszlai’s dynamism, Gravenberch’s driving runs, Endo’s experience, Nyoni’s promise. It looks fine for a one-game snapshot.

Stretch that over a season fighting on four fronts and the picture changes fast. Two injuries or suspensions, a dip in form, and suddenly the middle of the pitch starts to creak.

Liverpool are building a squad to attack trophies again. Right now, though, the bold work on the wings and in defence is being undercut by a slow, quiet thinning of the core.

The question is no longer whether Iraola likes Bajcetic or rates Jones. It’s how long Liverpool can gamble on going without reinforcements in the very area that holds everything together.