Liverpool Echo Icon Sport Football Liverpool FCThe Liverpool head coach was looking forward to the summer transfer window as they prepared to face Chelsea. Slot was seen speaking to the Liverpool squad during training (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images). Arne Slot confessed that Liverpool “would have had a problem” if they couldn’t find a way to enhance their title-winning squad. He predicts that both Manchester City and Arsenal will splash the cash in an attempt to catch up to his team next season. The Reds are already shifting their focus to the upcoming season after securing their 20th championship last weekend, with four games still left to play.
Liverpool is expected to provide Slot and the recruitment team, led by sporting director Richard Hughes, with a substantial transfer budget in the upcoming market as they aim to defend their title for the first time in over 40 years. The Reds are looking to strengthen various positions, with a new left-back and number nine being top priorities. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has already been confirmed as a new addition after a £29 million deal was agreed with Valencia last year.
When asked if one of the most promising aspects of Liverpool’s title victory was the potential for further development, Slot said, “Yeah, because if I feel there’s no way for us to improve, then we would have had a problem because I know – normally I always say 99.9% but now I know 100% – for sure that City and Arsenal will improve.”
“That improvement will also come by probably bringing in new players because that’s what they did for so many years in a row, so we would be surprised if they don’t do it now. But maybe we set the example that all of a sudden teams now feel like ‘ah, maybe it’s better not to buy someone because then you can win the league’. I don’t think that’s going to happen, but you never know!”
“They will improve, so we have to improve as well, and there is room for improvement for us. But we’ve been really consistent throughout the whole season, and yes, you can improve, but consistency is the key to winning a title.”
While Liverpool’s players will enjoy a well-deserved break in the summer, City – along with Chelsea – will travel to the United States to participate in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup. The addition of another tournament to an already packed schedule has received criticism, with City manager Pep Guardiola expressing concerns over player welfare.
Liverpool will not be participating despite being the newly-crowned Premier League champions and ranked fourth in UEFA’s club coefficients. When asked if he was glad his team had missed out, Slot said, “I think you have to ask me this question after the tournament. In this moment, eight out of 10 people who work in this business – maybe even 10 out of 10 – will feel like ‘is it really necessary to have another tournament for these players that already had such a long season?’.”
“I don’t think it’s healthy for players to only have maybe one week off, then go into the tournament, then have one week off and start the whole Premier League season again. But maybe when it’s done we all feel we would love to be there because it was a great occasion.”
“Maybe then that can also lift you towards next season. In pre-season you play friendly games and at Feyenoord when we had to play qualifying games to go in the Conference League we always started off the season really well because these games are so competitive. So it could lead to the ones that are there starting the season really well. But then we have to wait and see what it means for the long-term for these teams hardly having any days off.”
Liverpool fans are eager to see how the team will continue to evolve in the off-season, with high hopes for another successful campaign. As the summer transfer window approaches, all eyes will be on Slot and his team as they work to strengthen the squad for the challenges ahead.
