Former Liverpool captain Paul Ince has stated that new head coach Andoni Iraola faces a "massive revamp" at Anfield this summer to turn around the club's fortunes after a disappointing fifth-place Premier League finish last season. Ince, who made 81 appearances for the Reds, specifically challenged midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister to rediscover the form that helped Liverpool win the 2024/25 league title.
Iraola's Arrival and Squad Changes
Iraola was appointed on a two-year deal in June, replacing Arne Slot, who was dismissed after Liverpool lost 12 league games and finished fifth. The Basque coach has already seen Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson, and Mohamed Salah leave as free agents. Liverpool acted quickly to secure Victor Munoz from Osasuna two weeks ago and completed the £60 million capture of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes on Wednesday. However, Ince believes more significant changes are needed.
Ince Questions Transfer Targets
Speaking to BestBettingSites.com, Ince questioned the reported pursuit of RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, who is valued at around £90 million and reportedly prefers a move to Paris Saint-Germain. "People are talking about Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for £90million or something like that. Honestly, I watched him the other day and I think: 'Yeah, he's got some nice attributes, but he's a bit of a fizzy drink - he just pops up here and there,'" Ince said.
He added: "For £90million, I'm thinking: 'Jesus Christ!' Especially when you've got the young lad Rio Ngumoha at Liverpool, who is only 16 or 17 and plays on that left-hand side. Why do we need to go and spend that money on someone who is only two years older than him?"
Challenge to Gravenberch and Mac Allister
Ince emphasized the need for consistency from key players. "Under Slot in his first season, the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were absolutely fantastic, outstanding. But last season, I thought they were poor," he said. He also noted that Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Mohamed Salah were not at their best, while Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid. "If you go through that squad, Federico Chiesa hasn't been the signing we thought he would be at this moment. Hugo Ekitike has been out for three months. So you can see exactly why they struggled last year, and that’s not even mentioning the impact that Diogo Jota’s death would have had on the club."
Expectations and Fan Sentiment
Ince warned that Liverpool fans expect immediate improvement. "When you manage Liverpool, the fans always have an expectation, just like when you're at Manchester United. I looked at Liverpool last season and I just thought it wasn't right. There were a lot of issues there," he said. He pointed to rare public friction between Slot and Salah and fans booing as signs of deeper problems. "When the fans start doing that, you kind of think: 'Right, something is not right here, there's a deep issue.'"
Ince concluded: "I certainly don't expect them to win the title this year, that's for sure, but it will be interesting to see what acquisitions Iraola brings in to make them better, because they need a much better season."
