![\"PHILADELPHIA,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_SOCCER-JUN-25-FIFA-World-Cup-26-Group-E-Curacao-vs-Cote-dIvoire.jpg\")
<\/p>\nToday’s Liverpool latest sees the Reds handed another transfer setback as a word of warning is issued to Andoni Iraola<\/p>\n
Yan Diomande has impressed for Cote d’Ivorie during the World Cup(Image: Icon Sportswire, Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Liverpool’s summer transfer ambitions were dealt a significant setback earlier this week. Reports suggesting Yan Diomande is keen on a move to Paris Saint-Germain<\/a> have left Andoni Iraola and sporting director Richard Hughes with plenty to consider.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger, who is currently turning heads at the World Cup, had been identified as Liverpool’s top priority this summer<\/a>. The exit of Mohamed Salah<\/a> has left the Reds searching for a top-quality wide player<\/a>, but Diomande no longer appears to be the man earmarked for that role.<\/p>\n Today’s developments see the back-to-back European champions potentially land another transfer blow on the Reds. Meanwhile, Iraola has received a stark warning regarding one of his existing squad members ahead of the upcoming campaign.<\/p>\n PSG move for Diomande alternative<\/p>\n Maghnes Akliouche has made it known to Liverpool that his preference is to sign for Paris Saint-Germain this summer, according to TeamTalk<\/a>. The 24-year-old has been one of the standout performers in Ligue 1 over the past 12 months, earning a spot in Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad following an impressive stint at Monaco.<\/p>\n The likes of Man Utd, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have all kept tabs on Akliouche throughout the season, according to reports.<\/p>\n Maghnes Akliouche is said to want PSG(Image: 2024 Soccrates Images B.V.)<\/p>\n The report claims that PSG have made contact with Akliouche’s camp this summer and the player is keen on joining Luis Enrique’s side. Negotiations are said to be advancing, with a \u00a360million transfer potentially on the cards.<\/p>\n Akliouche has been touted as a possible successor to Salah at Liverpool, given his versatility across both flanks and in an attacking midfield role. Short of a last-minute dramatic turn of events, it looks as though PSG have once again pipped the Reds to one of the continent’s most exciting young talents this summer.<\/p>\n Iraola given a major warning<\/p>\n Iraola has been urged to unlock the best from Florian Wirtz in the coming season. Wirtz joined Liverpool 12 months ago from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal valued at up to \u00a3116m, but endured a testing first campaign at Anfield<\/a> under Arne Slot.<\/p>\n The German international, who is currently on duty at the World Cup, managed seven goals and eight assists across all competitions last term. Vladimir Smicer, a Champions League<\/a> winner with Liverpool back in 2005, believes the club’s new head coach must find a way to get the very best out of the 23-year-old.<\/p>\n “I think the price tag and the transfer money from Leverkusen to Liverpool was big, and the pressure was on Wirtz with statistics about how much his goals and assists cost,” Smicer told Casinostugan.<\/p>\n Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool last summer(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n “But a player like him will be under pressure all the time. You have to perform for Liverpool, and now for Germany. They will expect a lot from him. Two years ago at the European Championship, expectations were not that high, but this time he’s two years older and has more experience.<\/p>\n “They need to build the German team around him. At Leverkusen, the team was built for him and he was a free player with wingers on the side and a striker. In Liverpool, we were trying to find his best position all season. He was playing right, left, as a striker, and behind the striker.<\/p>\n “If you buy a player for 130 million euros, you need to put him in his favourite position and build the team around him. If you buy Wirtz and play him as a left-winger, you throw that money away. You need to play him in his best position and then change other players.”<\/p>\n Smicer added: “If you spend that kind of money on Alexander Isak or Florian Wirtz, you must play them in their best position. That’s the hard thing.<\/p>\n “If you play Wirtz as a winger, he will never give you as much. He will still perform, but he’s not going to be at his best. So I hope for him and for Germany that they play him in his best position so he can perform… I just hope Andoni Iraola will find his position.”<\/p>\n FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated LFC Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n Get the best Liverpool FC news and analysis straight to your Inbox courtesy of the Echo!<\/p>\n It’s as simple as 1-2-3.<\/p>\n![\"Maghnes](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_GettyImages-2199793038.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Florian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1_Manchester-United-v-Liverpool-Premier-League.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_Screenshot-2026-06-03-at-133610.png\")
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