Paul Ince has put the focus on Liverpool's rebuild under Andoni Iraola, and he did not soften the message. The former captain said there is "a massive revamp" to do at Liverpool, after a fifth-place finish in the Premier League with 60 points and 12 defeats. He also questioned whether the club should spend huge money on another winger.

Ince's view on Liverpool's winger chase

Ince was especially sceptical about Yan Diomande. He said the 19-year-old has "some nice attributes", but added that he is "a bit of a fizzy drink - he just pops up here and there." That is not exactly a ringing endorsement for a player linked with a major fee.

The fee talk around Diomande has not been tidy either. One source put the figure at up to £86million, while Ince himself went higher and said: "For £90million, I'm thinking: 'Jesus Christ!' Especially when you've got the young lad Rio Ngumoha at Liverpool, who is only 16 or 17 and plays on that left-hand side." The point he is making is obvious enough, Liverpool already have a young option there, and he does not see value in forcing a massive move.

There is also evidence that the club are already reshaping the squad, even if the recruitment plan is not fully settled. Liverpool have confirmed Jérémy Jacquet's £60m capture from Rennes and signed Victor Muñoz two weeks ago. That sits alongside the broader move towards younger players, which is where Diomande fits as a 19-year-old target.

The squad balance issue behind the rebuild

The rebuild talk is not just about one winger chase. Liverpool's average Premier League squad age last season was 26.2, with only six teams older, and their new signings over the last two years have had an average age under 22. That is a clear shift in recruitment, and it helps explain why the club are being linked with younger attackers such as Diomande and Bradley Barcola.

Ince also pushed the conversation beyond transfer fees and into the mood around the club. He said fans "very rarely" boo at Liverpool, and when they do, it suggests "there's a deep issue". After a season that ended with fifth place and 12 defeats, that is not a wild conclusion.

He was just as direct about the midfield. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were, in his words, "absolutely fantastic, outstanding" in the title-winning season, but "poor" last season. Their recent league ratings, 6.6 and 6.7, do not argue strongly against that criticism.

Iraola now inherits a squad that needs fixing in several places, not just one. The transfers already announced show Liverpool are active, but Ince's warning is that the club cannot treat a wide rebuild like a one-player problem. How they handle the winger market, and whether they keep leaning into younger targets, will tell us more when the next deals arrive.

FAQ

Why does Paul Ince think Liverpool need a major rebuild?

Ince points to Liverpool finishing fifth in the Premier League with 60 points and 12 defeats. He also says there is a massive revamp to do under Andoni Iraola, after the club already confirmed Jérémy Jacquet's £60m capture from Rennes and signed Victor Muñoz two weeks ago.

Why is Paul Ince sceptical about Liverpool's winger targets?

He praised Yan Diomande's attributes but said the winger can be a bit of a fizzy drink, popping up here and there. Ince also questioned a £90million move, especially with Rio Ngumoha already on the left-hand side at Liverpool.

How does Liverpool's recruitment point to a younger squad?

Liverpool's average Premier League squad age last season was 26.2, with only six teams older. Over the last two years, the average age of the players they brought in has been under 22, and Diomande, aged 19, fits that direction.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →