For the first time in over a decade, Mohamed Salah will not return to Anfield next season. Neither will Andrew Robertson or Ibrahima Konaté. The three have all departed Liverpool on free transfers in an extraordinary summer, leaving new manager Andoni Iraola to rebuild from the defence and attack simultaneously.
Salah has joined Trabzonspor after nine years at Anfield. Robertson has signed for Tottenham Hotspur, moving to a Premier League rival. Konaté has completed a move to Real Madrid. Their exits represent a clean break rather than a gradual transition—the shedding of three pillars who defined Liverpool through the past decade.
Rebuilding with youth and investment
Iraola has responded with aggressive recruitment. Jérémy Jacquet has arrived from Rennes for £60 million, a deal agreed in January. Victor Muñoz has joined from Osasuna for £34.5 million. These signings form the core of Liverpool's £97.1 million summer investment, intended to offset the experience lost to the exodus.
The spending reflects both necessity and ambition. Liverpool finished 5th in the Premier League last season, a disappointing finish that justified the emergency overhaul. Yet Iraola's reach extends beyond those already signed. Two rejected bids for Brighton's Yankuba Minteh—who demanded over £70 million—and continued interest in Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola, whose asking price is at least £130 million, reveal a manager attempting to build something competitive.
The unfinished rebuild
Iraola's test is whether youth and fresh investment can replicate the experience and quality of those who departed. As the September 1 deadline approaches, his summer remains unfinished. The transfer window closes in days, and Liverpool's squad transformation hangs in the balance.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
