The deal that changes everything

After weeks of speculation, waiting, and the kind of drawn-out saga that tests the patience of even the most level-headed supporter, Liverpool have finally got their man. A deal for Bradley Barcola has been agreed with Paris Saint-Germain, with The Athletic reporting the two clubs have settled on a package worth £120m. That figure makes the 23-year-old the second-most expensive signing in Liverpool's history, behind only Alexander Isak's £125m move last summer.

Sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon led the negotiations with their PSG counterparts, and while the deal is not yet formally complete, the direction of travel could not be clearer. This is happening. After losing Mohamed Salah at the end of last season and watching Hugo Ekitike pick up an Achilles injury, the attacking reinforcement Liverpool desperately needed is finally on its way.

Why this signing matters so much right now

The urgency behind this deal was painfully obvious during Liverpool's 2-2 draw at Newcastle in their Premier League opener. Rio Ngumoha, given just a summer to adapt to a new position on the right flank, found it tough going, and that is no criticism of the lad, simply a reflection of the circumstances the club found themselves in. When Lewis Koumas came off the bench in the second half, it underlined just how stretched those attacking options had become.

That is the backdrop against which Barcola arrives, and it explains why this is not just a marquee signing for the sake of it. There is a genuine, pressing need here. A £120m investment in a player of his profile speaks to the ambition of the club, but it also speaks to how thin the squad looked without Salah's presence and with Ekitike sidelined. Barcola should slot in and immediately make Liverpool a more dangerous proposition going forward.

Iraola's message: this might not be the last of it

Speaking at his press conference on Thursday ahead of the Reds' fixture against Nottingham Forest, manager Andoni Iraola was careful not to reference Barcola by name, understandable given the deal was still being finalised, but he was refreshingly candid about the situation. "As you know, we are trying to sign in that position," he said. "We can't talk about players who, right now, aren't ours. But we are trying to improve and fill that position as we don't have the numbers. I hope we have good news soon but we are still not there."

Crucially, Iraola also hinted that further business could follow before the window closes. "I'm sure if we can improve other areas, we will," he added, before acknowledging the unpredictability of deadline week. "Experience tells us that if there's an opportunity, the last day you can do something. I don't know what's going to happen. I have to be patient. Then we get to September 2, this is who we have and the options we have, then we can start thinking."

With less than five days left before the window shuts, those words will be worth keeping in mind. Barcola may well be the headline act, but Iraola's comments suggest the Reds are not quite ready to close the curtain on their summer business just yet.