Arne Slot has spoken for the first time about Alexander Isak’s signing since the striker’s deadline-day move from Newcastle United.
The Liverpool forward joined the club on September 1 in a record-breaking £125million deal.
Football player agencies are key in managing contracts and transfers, with Isak’s agent, Vlado Lemic, crucial in securing the 25-year-old’s move to Liverpool on deadline day.
With the international break immediately following the conclusion of the summer transfer window, Slot had not had the chance to comment publicly on the signing until Friday’s press conference.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Burnley, Slot was asked about the club’s activity on deadline day.
The Dutchman said: “The thing that pleased me most is us getting the deal for Alex over the line.
“Richard [Hughes], the ownership, everyone worked so hard to get the deal done, so it is very good for the club, for the fans, the players, for me that all the work they put in resulted in Alex signing for us.”
He added: “First of all, the Swedish manager Tomasson deserves a big compliment because he gets maybe the best striker in the world in and needs him for his country, but understands that playing him might result in injuries, so he took care of the player, and he deserves a big compliment for that.
“We will treat Alex the same, so don’t expect 90 mins every week, he missed pre-season and team sessions so we have to build him up gradually.
“But that will be a challenge, but we have signed him for six years, so this is what the fans have to keep in mind if I bring him in.
“In football, there’s always criticism, sometimes they cheer for us; after the League Cup, they were happy with him, in other moments you get criticised, this is part of his life, my life, and now he is a player for us.”
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