For the second time in as many years, Liverpool Football Club are set for a new era of excitement and unpredictability after Arne Slot was handed his marching orders.
The Dutchman was sacked on Saturday afternoon following an end-of-season review, with the Reds only registering a fifth-placed finish a year after winning the Premier League.
It appears as though former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola will be the man to take over at Anfield, after personal terms were agreed with the Spaniard earlier this week.
The 43-year-old has agreed a two-year deal with an option for a third on Merseyside, with real hope that he can lead the Reds back towards title glory in the near future.
He may need added reinforcements upon his arrival to help him in his quest on Merseyside, but it appears the hierarchy have already identified numerous potential transfer targets.
Liverpool prepare bid for £80m star this summer
Despite the window not opening until the 15th of June, Liverpool have already been linked with a whole host of big-money transfer targets to improve the senior ranks.
RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande is a player Reds fans will be familiar with at this point, after weeks upon weeks of transfer speculation linking him with a move to Anfield.
The Ivorian is set to be one of the most in-demand talents during the summer window, as PSG look to do battle and also secure a move for the 19-year-old.
Other options are still being pursued by the hierarchy at present, with West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes another being considered.
According to TEAMtalk, the Reds are preparing an offer to land the Portuguese international after the Hammers suffered relegation to the Championship this term.
The report also states that Arsenal and Manchester United are looking to take advantage of the current situation and land a bargain deal for the Portuguese international.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are said to be demanding around £80m to offload the 21-year-old this summer – a figure double what they paid for his services 12 months ago.
Why Fernandes would be perfect for Diomande at Liverpool
There’s certainly no denying that Diomande has been the biggest name mentioned with a potential move to Liverpool ahead of the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.
The 19-year-old has been one of Europe’s leading talents throughout recent months, as seen by his remarkable tally of 12 goals and eight assists in the Bundesliga.
The interest from the Reds and current defending European champions PSG is hardly a surprise, but any deal would cost a small fortune – with a £86m transfer fee expected to be needed.
|
Most combined G+As in the Bundesliga (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Tally |
|
Harry Kane |
41 |
|
Michael Olise |
34 |
|
Luis Diaz |
29 |
|
Deniz Undav |
25 |
|
Christoph Baumgartner |
21 |
|
Yan Diomande |
20 |
|
Andrej Kramaric |
20 |
|
Patrik Schick |
19 |
The right-winger will certainly need time to settle into life on Merseyside should he make a move to Liverpool this summer, with the Premier League a whole level above the Bundesliga.
A move for Fernandes would certainly make the transition easier for the Ivorian international, especially if he can emulate his stats from the recent season.
The Portuguese international, who’s been dubbed a “superstar” by one analyst, managed to create 1.2 chances per 90 this term, along with 455 passes made into the final third.
Both of the aforementioned tallies highlight his quality with the ball at his feet, which could see him provide Diomande with countless opportunities upon any move to Anfield.
The current West Ham star also managed to complete 59% of the dribbles he attempted this term, which has allowed him to get into attacking areas before teeing up a teammate.
Fernandes’ 88% pass accuracy and 23% cross success rate also demonstrates his phenomenal ability to create carnage for the opposition within attacking areas.
Diomande would undoubtedly be a beneficiary of his quality in possession, with the pair able to form a deadly partnership alongside one another under Iraola’s guidance.
£80m for the Hammers’ midfielder would be an insane amount of money, but the 21-year-old is a player who can develop even further during the years ahead.
Should he be able to strike up a partnership with Diomande on Merseyside, the Portuguese international would be worth every penny and could provide the difference in the hunt for a league title.
Iraola would no doubt love a player of Fernandes’ quality upon his own move, with the Spaniard undoubtedly a manager who can take the player and club to the next level.
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