Liverpool boss Arne Slot has given fans an update on the club’s transfer plans amid a quiet summer.
The end of Jürgen Klopp at Anfield has ushered in a new era at Liverpool, which currently resembles the old one.
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Slot has replaced the charismatic German on the coaching bench, but has not made many new additions.
He is impressed with his current squad after a brilliant pre-season in which they won every game – including against Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United.
The Dutchman said: “I’m focused on the tour, how we played, what we need to improve and what we did well. As I said, the bar is really high for signings because we have so many good players.”
“So it is not so easy to first find a player who meets these standards and then [the question is] is he available? Then we have to reach an agreement with them. It is not always easy to find a player who can help us, but [sporting director] Richard [Hughes] work hard on it and see what happens.
“As I said at the beginning, my main focus has been to work with the team and prepare them as best as possible for the first Premier League game and of course for these games. Apart from that, he is working on things and keeps me updated at all times, but my main focus is the team here.”
A defensive midfielder has been targeted by Liverpool over the past 12 months after missing out on Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, who both moved to Chelsea.
But Slot believes he may already have the answer in his squad – namely in Ryan Gravenberch, who the Reds signed from Bayern Munich towards the end of the 2023 summer transfer window.
“I think Ryan Gravenberch has done really well in that position [on Sunday vs United] and we have other options as well,” Slot added.
“The best way to judge this is when we have all the players back and we are not yet [got them].
“But a club like Liverpool always keeps its eyes open to see what’s available, players that can strengthen the squad and that’s what we – especially Richard – but also I try to do, but that’s not limited to a particular position. We constantly evaluate the squad, where we can do something and what we have.”
Liverpool have yet to sign a new player this summer, but several options have been mooted, including a controversial transfer of Newcastle star Anthony Gordon, who came from arch-rivals Everton’s academy.
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Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi has been targeted following the free transfer of Joel Matip this summer, but the Eagles are demanding a hefty price.
As for departures, Joe Gomez could leave the club to play more in the first team, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has been seen giggling about a possible transfer to Real Madrid.
Like Alexander-Arnold, key players Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are in the final year of their contracts and could leave for free next year.
Slot added: “I have not followed the speculation and the only thing I know is that on Tuesday [Gomez] is back with us and I spoke to him straight after the Euros. He’s one of our squad players, so it’s the same with Trent, Virgil and all the others, I have to see them.
“And everyone has to meet high standards because they’ve probably seen the current players play well. So I hope the eight or nine that come in on Tuesday are ready to compete with them.”
Although Liverpool are flying back from the USA this week, their pre-season training is not over yet and on Sunday the team will face Sevilla at Anfield.
Their Premier League season then starts on Saturday 17 August against league leaders and newcomers Ipswich Town.