It is August, the sun is out, and Liverpool's transfer window is starting to warm up nicely. After wrapping up their pre-season tour of the United States with a 4-2 defeat to Leeds United on Sunday, there is plenty to process both on and off the pitch. Here is the full picture.

Let's start with the big one. Bradley Barcola is understood to be a top priority for the club this summer, with Liverpool said to be preparing a move for the Paris Saint-Germain forward. The Frenchman carries a price tag of around £140 million, which gives you a sense of the scale of ambition here. That is a significant outlay, but if the club have identified him as the man to strengthen the attack, you would expect them to back that judgement. We will know more soon enough.

While Liverpool look to bring players in, there are potential departures to consider too. Curtis Jones is reportedly attracting interest from Inter Milan, which will be a storyline worth watching as the window develops. Jones has given plenty to this club over the years and deserves a move that suits him if his future does lie elsewhere.

On the subject of outgoings, Tottenham have been sniffing around Cody Gakpo, and transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed there is genuine interest from north London. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: "Tottenham had contacts with the agency representing Cody Gakpo. Tottenham like the player and believe he could be the right addition for Roberto De Zerbi. Now depends on the price."

However, Romano was equally clear about Liverpool's position: "Liverpool are not pushing Gakpo out. Liverpool are very happy with Cody Gakpo. The only way to open doors is if Tottenham present a really good financial proposal. In that case, if the player wants to go, could change the stance."

The Daily Mail backs that up, reporting that Liverpool have no interest in selling the Dutch forward to Spurs or anyone else, and that their stance would only shift if a truly extraordinary sum lands on the table. In other words, do not hold your breath.

Elsewhere, Federico Chiesa looks set to remain at the club this summer despite recent links with Atletico Madrid. According to Calciomercato, the Italian forward is keen to stay and demonstrate his worth to the manager. After a frustrating debut season, a fresh start under new leadership could be exactly what Chiesa needs.

There was also an interesting development regarding Mohamed Salah's future, with Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan moving to shut down reports of an agreement between the Turkish club and the forward. Speaking to A Spor, Dogan was unequivocal: "There is no such agreement. As for plans to bring him to Trabzon, there is no such plan; there is nothing to it. If there were such a plan, information would be provided from our side, the press would be informed, and so on. There is no such thing."

Down at academy level, the Daily Mail reports that several young Liverpool players are set to head out on loan. Left-back Calum Scanlon, who impressed during the pre-season tour in the States, is being eyed by Cardiff City for a temporary switch. Keyrol Figueroa and Wellity Lucky are also expected to move on loan this summer. Good experience for players at that stage of their development, and it keeps the pathway clear.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo has found a new home, signing for Kazakh Premier League side Aktobe after two years in Slovenia with Maribor. It is the 11th club of his career since breaking into the Liverpool matchday squad as a 17-year-old back in December 2014. Jurgen Klopp once said of him, "Everybody saw already what a wonderful player he is," and many who watched him back then would have hoped for a different story. Football does not always write the script you want. We wish him well.

Finally, former Liverpool star Jason McAteer has been reflecting on Alexander Isak's difficult start to life at the club, and he makes some fair points. Isak returned from the World Cup and featured in the pre-season defeat to Leeds, but McAteer believes the Norwegian's confidence has been a persistent issue. Speaking to Betarades, he said: "The World Cup for Isak started quite well and then he faded out a bit, which I think was down to sharpness, fitness and confidence. I do think he thrives on confidence. His career at Liverpool has been very much stop and start. He had a terrible beginning with the whole Newcastle saga, which I think weighed heavy on him."

McAteer also pointed to Hugo Ekitike's rapid rise as a complicating factor: "Ekitike quickly became a fan favourite, which affected his ego. His return after the injury was poor but he only played a handful of games, so we didn't see the best of him. What I really felt when he moved to Liverpool was that the expectations were ridiculously high. It is so different to anything else in the world, it is phenomenal in that sense. Some players struggle with that and some players embrace it. For him, he is maybe the type of player for whom it will take a bit of time."

That is a measured and honest assessment. Isak has the quality. The question this season is whether he finally gets the chance to show it consistently, and whether the shirt starts to feel like it belongs to him.

With Barcola potentially on his way, a new manager in the dugout, and a squad that showed flashes of real quality even in defeat to Leeds, this window is shaping up to be a defining one. Keep watching.