Barcola arrives as the window clock ticks down

The sight Reds supporters have been waiting for finally arrived on Sunday. Bradley Barcola was spotted on Merseyside to begin the first stage of his medical ahead of a £123million move that looks set to be confirmed on Monday. After a stuttering start to the season with Liverpool yet to pick up a win in their opening two matches, the arrival of the France international feels like a shot of adrenaline at exactly the right moment.

Barcola is expected to be confirmed as Liverpool's fifth signing of the summer, joining Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz, the on-loan Ronald Araujo and, subject to the formalities being completed, Lucca Brughmans in through the door at the AXA Training Centre. Andoni Iraola now has his marquee attacking arrival. The question is whether that proves to be enough before the window shuts at 11pm on 1 September.

Brughmans deal agreed, with a twist

Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Genk to sign 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans in a deal worth £30million, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Belgian is currently undergoing a medical. There is a catch, though. As things stand, Brughmans will head straight back to Genk on loan for the entirety of this season, with a full move to Anfield pencilled in for the 2026/27 campaign.

There is, however, an intriguing clause attached to the arrangement. Should Giorgi Mamardashvili depart before Deadline Day, with Nottingham Forest understood to have interest in the Georgia international, Liverpool would accelerate the timeline and bring Brughmans in immediately. It is a smart piece of business regardless of how that situation resolves itself. Liverpool's Global Talent department, headed up by Matt Newberry, has reportedly identified Brughmans as one of the most exciting emerging goalkeepers in Europe, and at 18 years old, he has time firmly on his side.

Earlier in the window, Liverpool also confirmed a deal to sign 18-year-old French forward Djylian N'Guessan from Saint Etienne, with that move set to be completed next summer. Authorisation for a medical has already been approved, and when you add the N'Guessan deal to the Brughmans agreement, it paints a clear picture of a club investing seriously in its long-term future under Iraola.

Gakpo, Sarr and the right-wing puzzle

Not everything is neatly tied up, mind. The future of Cody Gakpo is creating some real noise ahead of Deadline Day, with an £85million deal reportedly agreed with Manchester City. The Dutchman is unlikely to leave unless Liverpool secure another winger on top of Barcola, with Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr among the names being considered for the right-wing berth vacated by Mohamed Salah's departure.

Gary Neville weighed in on the Gakpo situation on Sunday and did not hide his bewilderment. "It's bizarre. The noise that Gakpo might leave, I know that Barcola might come in, but he looks like their best forward. I think he's a real danger," Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. "Someone like him can maybe not be appreciated at times. He's always involved and you should never underestimate a player [like him]. There's a lot of scruffy things he does but he always keeps coming back, he always wants the ball and he's always there. He does contribute with goals and with assists, maybe not at a massive level, but it's hard to replace lads like him." It is a fair point, and one Iraola will be very aware of.

Where the gaps still need filling

Neville did not stop at Gakpo, either. He was equally direct about what he sees as Liverpool's recruitment shortcomings elsewhere, pointing specifically at the full-back and central midfield positions. "There's real excitement with the players they've got up top and if they added a defensive midfield player, and two good full backs, they'd have a really good chance," he said. "But they're being undermined by a lack of recruitment in those full back areas and in central midfield. They need to do something."

Elsewhere, Federico Chiesa may yet remain at Liverpool this season, with Hugo Ekitike sidelined until at least the end of the calendar year. Stefan Bajcetic, meanwhile, is closing in on a return to Celta Vigo, with Liverpool set to include a buy-back clause as part of the deal. With the clock counting down to 11pm on 1 September, there is still plenty of business that could yet reshape Iraola's squad before the dust settles.