Liverpool
Where Yan Diomande Fits Among Liverpool’s Four Leading Salah Alternatives
Yan Diomande leads Liverpool’s shortlist to replace Mohamed Salah with 23 goal contributions in 2025
Liverpool face a difficult replacement task after Mohamed Salah negotiated an early exit and remains contracted only for a matter of weeks. The club is reported to have identified Yan Diomande as the “top target” as it looks to replicate the attacking profile the team will lose. The memory of the post-Suárez era still informs decisions; the club’s earlier choices for that role did not work out and set Liverpool back.
Diomande’s profile comes with a high price tag. RB Leipzig have long valued the Côte d’Ivoire international at €100 million ($116.4 million, £86.4 million), which is believed to be a release clause. He produced 13 goals and 10 assists across the campaign, a combined total that marginally eclipsed Salah’s output this season. The Ivorian is still developing, aged 19 and tied to Leipzig until 2030, and has a World Cup debut to focus on.
Leipzig’s stance on release clauses can be flexible. The club’s approach to transfers has previously allowed different structures; Liverpool themselves activated a release clause to sign Dominik Szoboszlai in 2023, while Barcelona structured a staggered deal when they bought Dani Olmo. Leipzig have also used delayed departures before, as when Benjamin Šeško left in 2025 for Manchester United rather than in 2024.
Other names on Liverpool’s shortlist present different trade-offs. Anthony Gordon is a more ready option at 25 but would still be costly, reported around $101 million (£75 million). Newcastle appear resigned to his sale after missing European qualification; Eddie Howe justified surprise omission this month because he was “looking at the future.” Jarrod Bowen offers a balanced output with 11 goals and 12 assists, while Maghnes Akliouche is more assist-oriented and was selected by France for the 2026 World Cup.
Each candidate brings specific strengths and uncertainties. Diomande leads the group for goal contributions and potential ceiling, but his price, age and Leipzig’s negotiating options mean Liverpool must weigh immediate need against longer-term value.
Liverpool
Chiesa embraces Liverpool reset as Iraola considers new role
Chiesa says he is committed to Liverpool and open to a striker role under Iraola in pre
Federico Chiesa has made clear that he remains fully committed to Liverpool, despite talk of a possible summer exit and renewed interest in a return to Italy. The forward, who has become a favourite with supporters, says he is focused on proving himself again under Andoni Iraola and welcomes the chance of a fresh beginning, even if it comes in an unfamiliar role.
Speaking after Liverpool’s 4-2 friendly win over Sunderland in Nashville, Chiesa explained that his discussions with Iraola have centred on the basics of the manager’s approach. “The only conversations I had [with Iraola] were about pressing and tactics,” said Chiesa after Liverpool’s recent 4–2 friendly win over Sunderland in Nashville . “So I don’t know [about the future], it is difficult to say. It is always a fresh start at the beginning of the year. Maybe there have been too many fresh starts.
“But I don’t care, I am trying to do my best for this new manager. Last season under Arne Slot, I was trying to do my best.
“Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool. I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything. I am doing the best I can to have a chance here. And then we will see. At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool.”
That message came alongside an encouraging on-field display. Chiesa played as a lone striker in the second half of Iraola’s first match in charge, scored in the victory, and later played a part in Lewis Koumas’s late goal.
Although he has built his career as a winger, Chiesa confirmed that Iraola sees him as an option up front. “He put me [at] striker today and he wants me there. I have played my whole career as a winger but I am happy to play striker as well,” said the Italy international.
Liverpool’s attacking resources have been stretched. Mohamed Salah has left, Hugo Ekitiké is facing a long absence after rupturing his Achilles, and the squad remains short of options in the final third. Víctor Muñoz has arrived, but the 23-year-old will need time to adapt. That leaves Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, Alexander Isak and Chiesa as the club’s only out-and-out forwards, with Isak the only natural striker currently fit.
Liverpool
Liverpool’s defensive depth tested early as Joe Gomez injury compounds Iraola concerns
Joe Gomez’s early injury has left Liverpool short at the back as Iraola manages a very thin squad.
Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool tenure has begun under strain after Joe Gomez was forced off inside 10 minutes of the Reds’ preseason opener against Sunderland.
The setback immediately tightened an already limited defensive pool, with Iraola making clear how quickly the situation turned. “Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe,” Iraola reflected after the game.
He added: “We were happy because we were kind of going through all the training without losing any player. Unluckily for us, straight away we’ve lost Joe.”
Gomez’s departure left 18-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe to step in, with no other senior alternatives available on the day. That reality now leaves Iraola facing the rest of the preseason tour, and possibly the opening of the new season, with very little margin for error at the back.
Liverpool’s situation is complicated further by the absence of Virgil van Dijk, who has not travelled to the U.S. as he continues to rest after the World Cup. Giovanni Leoni is also still working through the final stages of recovery from an ACL injury, while summer signing Jérémy Jacquet was not included in the matchday squad on Saturday despite having been training with the group for weeks.
Liverpool paid around $80 million (£60 million) to secure Jacquet in early February, then allowed him to complete the season with Rennes. He played only two more times before a season-ending shoulder injury, and Iraola later said the 21-year-old is still not quite ready.
“With Jeremy, we decided to take it easy with him,” Iraola explained. “He has been a lot of months without playing with a shoulder injury. So, I think we are going to take it easy with him.
“He will play probably the last game of this U.S. tour and he will have time to have minutes. It’s true that we were kind of happy but we’ve lost one now.”
Iraola had already described his squad as “very thin” and pointed to issues at both right back and centre back. On paper, Liverpool list four senior centre backs, but the current availability picture tells a different story, with Leoni not yet back in team training and Jacquet still needing time to build toward full readiness.
Arsenal
Premier League clubs step up 2026/27 preseason with fixtures spread across the world
Premier League clubs are spread across Europe, Asia and the US in a busy 2026/27 preseason.
With the World Cup having only recently concluded, Premier League clubs are already deep into their 2026/27 preseason programmes. The calendar is tight, the travel is heavy and the purpose is clear: get players ready, test combinations and give new faces a chance to make an early impression.
Arsenal, the reigning champions, are among the later starters. Their first friendly comes on Aug. 1 against Girona in Catalonia, before further meetings with Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Como. They will then face Manchester City in the Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Aston Villa have already opened with a 5-0 win over Walsall and continue across Europe and Asia, while Bournemouth began with a 4-1 victory against St. Pauli. Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion both have short schedules remaining, with each taking on European opposition in mid-August.
Chelsea’s first run under new manager Xabi Alonso takes them to Australia for matches against Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, before trips through Hong Kong, Jakarta and Malaysia. Their final friendly is against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge.
Elsewhere, Everton have mixed early results and face a demanding route through Scotland, Germany and home soil before meeting Lille. Fulham also have work to do after a behind-closed-doors defeat to Norwich City. Hull City, Ipswich Town and Coventry City all have their own preparations mapped out, while Crystal Palace have already played twice and continue with fixtures in Italy and Germany.
Liverpool’s schedule includes a United States tour against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds United, followed by Monaco and two games against Como on Aug. 16. Manchester City are taking a lighter approach, starting with Inter in Hong Kong before facing the K-League All-Stars, Atlético Madrid and Arsenal. Manchester United, meanwhile, have already lost to Wrexham and beaten Rosenborg 5-0, with Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds United and Milan still to come.
Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur also remain busy, with each club using these final weeks to sharpen up before the league begins.
