How Andoni Iraola plans to navigate Liverpool’s fractured summer

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While the official reconvening of the senior squad is locked in for next Tuesday, July 14, a select group of early returnees has already handed Iraola his first look at the tools at his disposal. Among those already being put through their paces by Iraola and his newly confirmed backroom staff is new £60 million centre-back signing Jeremy Jacquet.

A significant portion of the early group consists of those fighting their way back from long-term fitness battles: Wataru Endo: Following foot surgery in February and his subsequent retirement from international football after withdrawing from Japan’s World Cup squad, the veteran midfielder is back early. No firm timescale has been set for his return, but his presence at the training centre is a step forward.

Phase Players Included Expected Integration Point Early Rehab Jacquet, Endo, Elliott, Bajcetic, Leoni, Bradley, Ekitike Already at Kirkby Official Start (July 14) Szoboszlai, Jones, Gomez, Chiesa, Frimpong, Tsimikas, Kerkez AXA Training Centre First World Cup Wave Van Dijk, Gravenberch, Gakpo, Wirtz, Isak, Alisson Joining directly on US Tour Late Tournament Wave Victor Munoz (Spain), Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) Post-US Tour (Merseyside) Because of this staggered timeline, heavyweights like Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, and Alexander Isak will bypass Merseyside entirely, meeting up with Iraola’s squad mid-way through the upcoming pre-season tour of the United States. Iraola has to evaluate what he has, integrate a blockbusting new defender in Jacquet, resolve the futures of peripheral figures like Elliott, and in-still an entirely new tactical identity all while his best players arrive in dribs and drabs.