Liverpool’s Arne Slot has revealed that the club are actively planning for the summer transfer window, but their approach remains adaptable.
Slot admitted that several factors could influence the Reds’ business at the end of the season, including player performances in the coming months, the ambitions of squad members struggling for minutes, and the contract situations of key figures such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk.
Despite speculation, Liverpool made no signings in the January window, and their only addition last summer was the £10m acquisition of Federico Chiesa.
Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold, Salah, and Van Dijk are all out of contract this summer, though negotiations with the club are ongoing, and there is optimism that they will commit their futures to Anfield.
Liverpool were unable to secure Martin Zubimendi last summer, leading to a reassessment of the defensive midfield role.
Ryan Gravenberch has since adapted to the position and is now thriving, which could reduce the club’s need to target a No.6 in the upcoming window.
However, Slot emphasised that any new signings must meet the club’s high standards – an approach he fully aligns on with Liverpool’s new sporting director, Richard Hughes.
Slot said: “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.
“But 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.”
“Of course we have some contractual situations that you don’t probably don’t know about,” joked Slot.
“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,” added Slot.
“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.
“But 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.”
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