The 2026 World Cup is barely underway, and Liverpool is already treating it like a 48-team audition tape. The club has identified 13 transfer targets competing across the US, Canada, and Mexico, using the expanded tournament as a live scouting laboratory to fast-track a squad overhaul that’s been months in the making.

With Mohamed Salah’s departure still fresh and Ibrahima Konaté also gone, the task facing incoming head coach Andoni Iraola isn’t subtle. The World Cup’s group stage, which kicked off June 11, is providing a concentrated window to evaluate talent under the highest possible pressure.

The names on Liverpool’s radar

Yan Diomande, the RB Leipzig defender representing Ivory Coast, has emerged as one of the most frequently cited targets. His profile fits Liverpool’s need to shore up a backline that lost one of its anchors in Konaté.

On the attacking side, Bradley Barcola of PSG is the headline name. The French winger represents the kind of explosive, direct threat Liverpool will need to replace the output Salah provided for the better part of a decade.

Denzel Dumfries of Inter Milan, representing the Netherlands, adds another dimension to the list. His arrival would address Liverpool’s interest in reinforcing the right side of the pitch, an area the club has reportedly prioritized. Bazoumana Touré of Hoffenheim rounds out the most prominent names, though the full 13-player shortlist spans multiple positions and nationalities.

Why the World Cup matters for transfers

Iraola is expected to assess targets in person during the tournament. Coverage from outlets including the Mirror and Liverpool.com has emphasized the strategic nature of this effort throughout early June. The framing is consistent: Liverpool views this World Cup window not as opportunistic shopping, but as a structured part of its long-term planning.

Liverpool’s rebuild in context

Salah’s exit marks the end of an era that defined the club’s identity for nearly a decade. Konaté’s departure compounds the challenge. Losing a starting center-back and your best attacker in the same summer would test any club, even one with Liverpool’s resources and scouting infrastructure.

The 13-player target list suggests the club’s hierarchy understands the scale of investment needed. Liverpool’s strategy is focused on enhancing right-wing and defensive positions to meet the challenges of the next Premier League and European campaigns.