Arne Slot says Liverpool’s summer transfer plans will depend on the desires of his backup players as the Reds plan for a hugely pivotal summer transfer window.
The Dutch manager has performed beyond anyone’s expectations given the mountain of pressure to follow in Jurgen Klopp’s footsteps, however, he has been cool, calm and most importantly, is delivering the goods.
There is a chance that Slot wins the Premier League in his first season as the Reds’ coach and aside from adding Federico Chiesa, he is relying upon the quality players left to him by Klopp.
Having topped the Champions League group table and being in the lead in the Premier League, there is little more fans could ask of him but regardless of what happens this season in terms of silverware, Slot will need to set careful plans in place to ensure similar success can be enjoyed next season.
The manager has now shared insight into what will impact Liverpool’s summer transfer plans.
Liverpool transfer plans depend on backup players’ willingness to serve as deputies
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Liverpool’s Carabao semi-final second leg at Anfield against Spurs, Slot told supporters about the factors at play in the summer.
“It would be a bit weird if I said I was so happy with this team in the summer window and this winter window that now in the next window we bring 15 new players in,” Slot joked.
“That would be [weird]. But like I said you always have to be prepared for all the new things coming up.
“Will the players that don’t play a big part at the moment, will they be able to do this another year? Will they fight for their place or will they [want to] go somewhere else? So we have to be prepared for the next window and what we can do.”
One backup that is likely to leave is Caoimhin Kelleher with Valencia no.1 Giorgi Mamardashvili joining in the summer.
Contracts to play a huge part in refining summer transfer targets
Slot added that contract talks with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will have a huge say in determining what Liverpool need to do in the summer market.
He continued: “Of course we have some contractual situations that you don’t probably don’t know about! (laughs) But Trent, Mo and Virgil haven’t extended yet. So we are aware of the fact that we have to be sharp and ready for things that can happen.
“I think Richard said this already and maybe I said it once or twice as well that with the ‘new regime’ coming in, with Richard, me and some others, the first thing we wanted to do was see what we had over here.
“What could we do with them? Ryan Gravenberch is a great example of that, he quickly became the No.6 just by working with players and every single day or a lot of days, we constantly adjust asking: where are we? What quality do we have? Can we add something? Yes or no.
“And then there is the question: is that quality available? Only so many players are good enough to play for this team. That is also not so easy. If you are at Feyenoord, there are more players available than if you are at Liverpool for the right price.
“At the moment, we are very happy with what we have. But in football, things can change as well. If in the upcoming three months, a certain player who has done so well starts to play poorly, then you might have to adjust.”
