It's been one of those weeks where the transfer noise around Liverpool has been turned up to full volume. Some of it is genuine, some of it is smoke, and some of it is the kind of thing that gets supporters refreshing their phones at midnight. Let's cut through it properly.

First, the backdrop. Andoni Iraola and a 31-man squad are currently in Chicago, preparing for pre-season fixtures against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds United. Iraola has been clear this window: Liverpool need at least one winger, and potentially a right-back too given Conor Bradley's injury situation. That clarity from the manager is useful, because it frames everything else that follows.

The biggest ongoing story remains Bradley Barcola. The PSG winger continues to be linked with a move to Anfield, and interestingly, his future may have a direct bearing on transfer activity elsewhere in Europe. Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has suggested that PSG's pursuit of RB Leipzig midfielder Yan Diomande is entirely dependent on what happens to Barcola. Speaking to Wettfreunde.net, Di Marzio was candid: "I believe this is the ideal summer and the ideal transfer market for Yan Diomande to join Paris Saint-Germain. They are the club that has presented the player with the best project. Of course, it's a difficult transfer because Leipzig are demanding a lot of money, but he is Paris Saint-Germain's top transfer target."

He continued: "However, this transfer depends on Barcola's future. If they sign a player like Diomande, Barcola can naturally demand an immediate move. I think everything is interconnected, and yes, I believe Diomande is currently at the top of Paris Saint-Germain's list, followed by Liverpool. But I think at the moment Paris Saint-Germain is ahead of Liverpool."

So the chain of events is becoming clearer. PSG want Diomande. Diomande arriving would free Barcola to push for a move. Liverpool are in the conversation. It is all interconnected, as Di Marzio says, and it is the kind of domino sequence that could move very quickly once it starts falling.

Meanwhile, the Maghnes Akliouche chapter appears to be closing before it ever really opened. Contact was made between Liverpool and the Monaco winger's camp earlier in the window, but nothing materialised from it. More significantly, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated that Akliouche will become a PSG player, describing the move as certain "barring any surprises." PSG have had bids knocked back by Monaco and no full agreement is yet in place, but this one has the feel of a transfer waiting to be confirmed rather than a deal that might collapse. Liverpool supporters can file that one away.

There is a more intriguing piece of business to consider, though. According to talkSPORT, PSG defender Illia Zabarnyi has been offered to Liverpool. The Ukrainian centre-back joined PSG from Bournemouth for £57million just last summer, and is already being linked with an exit from the European champions. The connection to Iraola is obvious — Zabarnyi worked under him on the south coast — and sporting director Richard Hughes is also said to be an admirer. Whether Liverpool actually need central defensive cover, and whether the numbers make sense, are different questions entirely. But being offered a player of that profile is worth noting.

On the subject of players moving on, Crysencio Summerville has completed his transfer to Al-Hilal, according to The Athletic. The West Ham winger had been mentioned as a potential option as Liverpool search for a right-sided attacker following Mohamed Salah's departure, but he has opted for Saudi Arabia instead. No harm in that from Liverpool's perspective — the Barcola pursuit suggests the club's ambitions in that position are set considerably higher.

There is also a Darwin Nunez footnote worth mentioning. The Uruguayan striker, sold by Liverpool to Al-Hilal last summer, looks to have found himself surplus to requirements in Saudi Arabia after being left out of the squad following Karim Benzema's arrival at the club. The Athletic reports that MLS side Atlanta United have opened talks over signing the 27-year-old, though those conversations are at an early stage. A return to Liverpool was mooted earlier this summer but was swiftly dismissed. Atlanta looks the likelier destination.

Off the pitch entirely, the ownership story continues to bubble in the background. Fenway Sports Group have confirmed that a consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia has approached them about acquiring a stake in the club. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has also reportedly held discussions about potential involvement. No agreement has been reached, and talks are described as being at an early stage, but the consortium is understood to be backed by the Mittal family, whose net worth has been valued at over £26billion. It is a significant story that deserves proper attention in its own right, and it is one that will rumble on throughout the summer.

Finally, and perhaps the most straightforwardly good news of the week: Stefan Bajcetic is back in training. The Spanish midfielder has been pictured working with the squad in Chicago, more than two years on from his last first-team appearance for the Reds. Iraola had hinted that both Bajcetic and Wataru Endo were close to rejoining the group when the squad departed for the United States, and that has now been confirmed. For a player who has endured such a frustrating and prolonged absence, seeing him back out on the training pitch will mean a great deal.

With pre-season matches approaching and the Barcola saga building towards some kind of resolution, the next few weeks are going to be worth watching very closely.