Andoni Iraola confirms Liverpool star is coming back after over 400 days

Andoni Iraola has confirmed an exciting Liverpool star is nearing a return to action.

There are plenty of reasons why things have moved so slowly for Liverpool this summer.

For starters, it's been a summer of huge changes behind the scenes. The club has appointed a new manager, Michael Edwards has stepped away from his role, and Richard Hughes is also preparing to leave.

On top of that FSG are in talks for a majority minority investment, which will have averted their attention somewhat also.

When that much changes at executive level, it's only natural for recruitment to slow down.

The World Cup didn't help either. With so many players focused on the biggest tournament in football, negotiations were always likely to be more complicated. Liverpool were then dealt another setback when Yan Diomande, one of the club's priority targets, decided he wanted to join Paris Saint-Germain instead.

There has been some positive news. Liverpool have brought in Victor Munoz, and signing a World Cup winner is certainly an exciting start.

But one signing alone isn't enough.

Right now, Liverpool still look several players short of where they need to be. The squad could easily require four or five more additions before the window shuts, and that's without taking into account any further departures.

Andoni Iraola has already made it clear that he wants more reinforcements, so there's every expectation that Liverpool will be active over the coming weeks.

The issue is that the clock is ticking. With only six weeks left before the transfer window closes, there's a huge amount of business still to get through.

Liverpool have pulled off busy finishes to transfer windows before, but given the scale of the rebuild this summer, they'll have to move quickly if they're going to get everything done in time.

Midfield is one area Liverpool simply can't afford to ignore this summer.

The biggest piece of business has already been taken care of, with Dominik Szoboszlai committing his future to the club by signing a new deal until 2031. Securing one of the team's most important players for the long term is a huge boost.

Beyond that, though, there are still plenty of question marks.

The futures of Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones remain uncertain. Mac Allister continues to be linked with Real Madrid, while Jones has attracted interest from Nottingham Forest and Inter Milan. Whether either player leaves remains to be seen, but the speculation alone creates uncertainty.

There's also the possibility of Trey Nyoni heading out on loan. Swansea City, now managed by former Liverpool coach Vitor Matos, are believed to be keen on taking the 19-year-old for the season to help accelerate his development.

Even if everyone stays, Liverpool could still do with another midfielder.

The Reds are still missing a natural holding midfielder. Ryan Gravenberch did an excellent job in the role under Arne Slot, but whether he fits Andoni Iraola's system in the same position remains an open question.

That's why Liverpool continue to be linked with specialist midfielders such as Lamine Camara, Mamadou Sangare and Adam Wharton. So far, though, those links haven't turned into concrete moves.

With the transfer deadline getting closer every week, Liverpool can't afford to wait much longer. If midfield is a priority - and it certainly looks like it is - the time to act is fast approaching.

Thankfully, there's also some good news when it comes to players coming back.

Andoni Iraola confirmed in his press conference in Chicago that Stefan Bajcetic is now not far away from being able to train with the first-team, claiming that he is 'close' to training with the group.

This is exciting news. The youngster became a star for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and broke records, including becoming the youngest midfielder to score for the Reds in the Premier League.

He missed the entirety of last season not playing a single game. Bajcetic's last appearance at club level was back on the 13th of May 2025.

So, it's been over 400 days of not playing for the Spaniard, which is a significant amount of time to miss. However, Liverpool have been careful not to rush him back too soon.

This summer will reveal whether that has been a good decision. If Bajcetic can return to the level he was before his injury problems, then Iraola has a perfect player for his high-intensity system.