Liverpool boss Arne Slot says buying a top-class defensive midfielder shouldn’t be the Reds’ solely concern as they proceed to await their first signing of the switch window.
Liverpool are the one membership within the Premier League but to make a signing forward of Slot’s first season on the helm, following near 9 years below Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp’s closing season in cost noticed the Reds implement a midfield rebuild, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch arriving.
Nevertheless, as Liverpool’s title problem fell away within the closing weeks of the season, pundits questioned why they’d not changed Fabinho following his transfer to Al-Ittihad.
Klopp’s aspect conceded extra targets (41), allowed extra anticipated targets in opposition to (46.18 xGA) and confronted extra pictures (414) than eventual champions Manchester Metropolis or runners-up Arsenal, they usually have continued to be linked with a transfer for a defensive midfielder.
Slot, nevertheless, has pointed on the market are a number of positions through which they’re eager to strengthen, saying: “I believe Ryan Gravenberch did very well in that place and we have now different choices as nicely.
“The easiest way to guage it’s when we have now all of the gamers again and we nonetheless haven’t.
“However a membership like Liverpool all the time retains its eye open to see what’s obtainable, gamers that may strengthen the squad and that’s what we – [sporting director] Richard [Hughes] largely –want to do however that’s not specific to 1 place.
“We consistently consider the squad, the place can we do one thing and what do we have now?”
Trent Alexander-Arnold performed a hybrid function for a lot of Klopp’s closing season, drifting right into a central midfield place from his traditional right-back function.
He’s one among a number of gamers to see their futures questioned since Klopp’s departure, however Slot is definite he’ll play a key function for the Reds in 2024-25.
“We didn’t talk about his dedication,” Slot says. “We solely spoke about the best way I needed him to play and the way he might match into that model.
“He was primarily centered on the Euros in the intervening time we spoke and I noticed some clips exhibiting me that he appears actually match and sharp. I can’t wait to see him prepare.
“However some others did fairly nicely, so it’s fascinating to see if the others come again then the extent goes up much more.
“We’ve a very good platform to construct from and never simply due to this tour. Jurgen left this squad in an excellent place, I mentioned that earlier than. Now it’s as much as us to maintain performing like Liverpool did for therefore a few years.”
