There are summers that define a club's direction. This one, under Andoni Iraola, is shaping up to be exactly that kind of summer for Liverpool.

Iraola has made a quiet but purposeful start to his first transfer window as Reds boss. Victor Munoz arrived after his £34.5m release clause was triggered in June, and Jeremy Jacquet followed, with a £60m agreement having been struck with Rennes back in January. Two arrivals. Decent business. But the squad still needs work.

The departures of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have left notable gaps, and the club knows it. The next few weeks could prove decisive — particularly if movement on the Bradley Barcola front continues at its current pace.

Liverpool have entered negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain over Barcola, a player who carries an eye-watering £140m price tag. Preliminary discussions with the winger's representatives have already taken place, and by all accounts those early conversations have gone well. The appetite is clearly there on Liverpool's side. The question, as always in deals of this magnitude, is about timing and circumstance rather than desire.

PSG's position has been well understood throughout. They are not in the business of selling a player of Barcola's quality without having a replacement secured. That has been the sticking point. But now, that sticking point appears to be shifting.

Sky Sports Germany reports that a significant breakthrough has been made in PSG's pursuit of Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco. Luis Enrique's side have been chasing the Monaco man for some time, and it now appears that a deal is close. All parties involved are reportedly confident that an agreement will be reached, with Akliouche having also settled on personal terms with the Ligue 1 giants.

If Akliouche completes his move to Paris, Liverpool's hand in the Barcola negotiations strengthens considerably. PSG would have their man in, their squad reinforced, and the path to sanctioning Barcola's exit would become far less complicated. It is the kind of domino effect that often shapes the most significant business in any transfer window.

A £140m outlay would be enormous, make no mistake. But given the calibre of player Liverpool are attempting to recruit, and the size of the void left by Salah's departure in particular, the logic of making a statement signing is hard to argue against.

While Barcola's future inches towards resolution, the Curtis Jones situation rolls on. The midfielder has long been the subject of speculation, and Inter Milan have now emerged as the frontrunners for his signature. Talks between the two clubs are ongoing, though a notable gap in valuations remains the central obstacle.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that once Inter finalise the free-agent signing of John Stones, they intend to make a concerted push for Jones. Inter head coach Cristian Chivu is said to be keen to get the deal done, and following a meeting held two evenings ago, the club's hierarchy agreed on an approach that is measured but focused.

The numbers tell the story of the impasse. Inter value Jones at around £21m. Liverpool are holding firm at £34m. That is a £13m gap, which is not insurmountable but is not nothing either. Inter appear content to play a waiting game for now, comfortable in the knowledge that their interest is genuine and their manager is pushing for the move.

Jones himself was spotted on the pitch during Liverpool's 1-0 pre-season win over Wrexham, coming off the bench and appearing in animated conversation with several team-mates at the final whistle. Whether that represents the farewell laps of a man preparing to move on, or simply a footballer enjoying his football, is difficult to say. The situation remains live.

Iraola's pre-season has gone well by all accounts. The squad is building momentum, the new arrivals are settling, and the atmosphere around the camp appears positive. But the manager will know better than anyone that what happens in the next few weeks in the transfer market could define Liverpool's entire season before a competitive ball has been kicked.

With Akliouche edging closer to PSG and Inter preparing to push for Jones, the next chapter in Liverpool's summer story looks like it is about to be written.