Iraola handed perfect answer to Liverpool’s €100m problem at World Cup

Updated: 20 Jun 2026 21:24 BST | 5 min read

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola may just have been presented with the perfect answer to a €100 million transfer problem the Anfield club faces.

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Following last season’s disappointing fourth-placed finish in the Premier League, the Anfield club are working on a plan to work their way back into immediate title contention under their new Basque boss.

Investment is required all over the side, with at least one new centre-back set to arrive while a new central midfielder, left winger and potentially even centre-forward could hook up with the Merseyside club.

After a €530 million investment last season, it’s a daunting wish list, and any opportunity to cut down on the outlay would be warmly welcomed by the board.

And Cody Gakpo’s performances at the World Cup may just be providing that opening for the Reds.

Current ETV

Cody Gakpo

F, M (L)

Liverpool

Cody Gakpo

F, M (L)

Liverpool

ETV Range

€62.2M - €76M

Liverpool’s biggest let down?

Gakpo’s performances last term were one of the most disappointing aspects of Liverpool’s play. The Dutchman had been given the responsibility of being a regular starter for the first time by Arne Slot. He began 32 Premier League matches, smashing his previous high of 23 in this category and playing roughly 50% more minutes than ever before.

Slot got no reward for his faith in his countryman. Gakpo delivered just 12 goals and assists combined, which was fewer than in either of his two previous campaigns, despite that massive increase in minutes.

His contribution of 0.39 goals and assists per 90 was his lowest tally since his €42 million move from PSV in January 2023.

This form has led Liverpool to seek an upgrade. Victor Munoz has already arrived in a €40 million deal from Osasuna, but the Reds’ real target is RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande. The Ivory Coast winger will cost north of €100m, though.

Liverpool are no strangers to big spending, but that type of outlay remains enormous.

Gakpo finds World Cup redemption

Gakpo’s performances for the Netherlands at the World Cup, then, should give the club cause for thought.

Stationed out on the left wing, the 27-year-old has torn both Japan and Sweden to pieces in the opening games of the tournament. In particular, he shone against the Swedes, scoring two goals in a 5-1 rout.

Of course, this is a pattern we’ve seen before. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Gakpo scored in all three group stage games, while he also scored three times in Euro 2024. He is a player who can thrive on the big stage.

Iraola can keep Gakpo’s momentum going

Iraola, meanwhile, has a keen talent for improving players.

Scan the top-end of the list of SciSports’ most-improved players worth more than €5m in the last six months, and it is dominated by the Bournemouth squad that Iraola so artfully guided into Europe. Four of the most improved 20 players worldwide plied their trade at the Vitality Stadium last season.

Bournemouth's most improved players aged 22+ and valued over €5m

World Rank	Name	SciSkill Improvement
2	James Hill	22.6
12	Adrien Truffert	14.8
15	Alex Scott	14.5
20	Marcos Senesi	13.9
44	Evanilson	12.8

Centre-backs James Hill and Marcos Senesi are both in this bracket along with left-back Adrien Truffert and central midfielder Alex Scott. A word, too, for Evanilson, with the centre-forward ranked 44th in this list.

Iraola is, therefore, looks the ideal manager to get Gakpo firing again at Anfield. The talent is there, he just needs a Liverpool manager who can harness it, and in the Basque, it seems like he has the perfect boss to do so.

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