Liverpool
Garber signals MLS as a realistic destination for Mohamed Salah after Liverpool exit
Garber: MLS would welcome Mohamed Salah after his Liverpool exit and could offer him great platform.
MLS commissioner Don Garber publicly opened the door to Mohamed Salah once the forward’s impending Liverpool exit was confirmed, framing the American league as an appealing option for the Egyptian international.
“Mo Salah is one of the great players in the history of the Premier League… I’d love to see him in our league,” Garber told reporters at the Sports Business Journal conference in Atlanta ahead of the city hosting the U.S. men’s national team friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. He added: “I couldn’t say that until he announced he was leaving Liverpool. What a great player he would be in MLS, and I think we would provide him with a great platform.”
Garber had taken a more cautious tone in December at an event honoring Lionel Messi’s back-to-back MVP titles. “Obviously, if [Salah] ever decides to come to Major League Soccer, we’d welcome him with open arms,” Garber told reporters at the time. “I’d say he should reach out to Leo [Messi] and reach out to Thomas Müller and see how happy they’ve been and how successful they’ve been and how much they’ve really embraced being in Major League Soccer.” Messi’s arrival in the summer of 2023 remains the headline example of high-profile signings, while more recent additions such as Antoine Griezmann, James Rodríguez, Thomas Müller and Son Heung-min illustrate growing acceptance of MLS among established stars.
Garber also warned that future transfers may not require direct league involvement. He was “not sure the league needs to get involved” in future deals, unlike the way it and its partners became intertwined in Messi’s Inter Miami contract, which includes a share of Apple TV broadcast revenue and other perks not included in standard player terms.
Interest is likely widespread across MLS clubs, yet most lack the roster space, local pull or financial heft to mount a serious offer. Reports on Wednesday said San Diego FC had not shown interest despite being owned by Egyptian businessman Sir Mohamed Mansour. ESPN reported the Chicago Fire were not involved in any active pursuit. New York City FC, which are set to open a new soccer-specific stadium in Queens in 2027, have also not approached, with CEO Brad Sims telling The Athletic: “I don’t think we need that,” citing the upcoming calendar switch in the 2027–28 season as an opportunity for MLS clubs to further contend for star signings. Yet, he didn’t shut the idea down entirely.
Liverpool
Liverpool weigh less costly winger options as Barcola price looms
Liverpool may need cheaper winger options if PSG resist Bradley Barcola, with several names in the frame.
Liverpool’s search for a new winger is sharpening around one clear name, Bradley Barcola, but the figures attached to him may force a rethink. Paris Saint-Germain are understood to be reluctant sellers and could demand about £145 million ($193 million), a fee that would likely rule the move out and push Liverpool toward more affordable alternatives.
That is why the Reds are being linked with several lower-cost options. The need is obvious: summer business cannot be focused on one position alone, so any wide signing has to make financial sense as well as football sense.
Maghnes Akliouche is one of the most practical names in the frame. Liverpool have already been linked with the Monaco winger, who has also drawn attention from PSG. At 24, with three senior seasons behind him, he fits the profile of a right-sided winger with a left foot, the kind of player who could step into Mohamed Salah’s area of the pitch. His output over the last two campaigns, 14 goals and 22 assists in all competitions, underlines his creative value. A fee just below £43 million ($57.2 million) would make him far cheaper than Barcola.
Rafael Leão brings greater star power, but also more uncertainty. The Milan forward, now 27, wants to leave San Siro after seven seasons. His record is strong, with double figures for both goals and assists across four of the last five campaigns, but his wages would be higher and his form less predictable.
Another name in the conversation is Rayan. The 19-year-old has a reported £130 million ($173 million) release clause that becomes active in January 2027, though Liverpool could try to negotiate earlier. He scored five goals and made two assists in 15 Bournemouth appearances last season.
Said El Mala is a more manageable option. Brentford had already agreed a £42.7 million ($56.9 million) deal for him earlier in the year before he turned it down. The Germany international delivered 13 goals and four assists for Köln last season.
Yankuba Minteh completes the group. The Brighton winger has 19 Premier League goal involvements in two seasons and, at 22, offers pace and physical threat that could appeal strongly if Liverpool move on from Barcola.
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.
Liverpool weigh less costly winger options as Barcola price looms
Vinícius Júnior’s contract stand-off keeps Real Madrid and Arsenal linked
