Liverpool’s new manager, Arne Slot, has defended the club’s decision not to sign new players despite selling and releasing players on loan and the poor depth the club has accrued over the years.
It seems to be a new era under Slot, who retains the usual system at Liverpool, as they are now the only club not to have signed players in this busy summer transfer window.
During his press conference ahead of Liverpool’s first game against Ipswich Town—who last appeared in the English top-flight league 22 years ago—Slot asserted that the team is currently in good shape despite being rejected by their summer target, Martin Zubimendi, who decided to stay at his club in Spain:
“I’ve said many times already that I think our squad is really strong, and it is not so easy to find players that can help us or even strengthen the squad. [Martin] Zubimendi was one of them, to be fair, but he decided not to come. Then we go forward with the ones we have, and those ones have done really well in pre-season. So, we’re in a good place, and like I said many times before, in the background, Richard [Hughes] is trying to strengthen the squad as he can. But unfortunately, Zubimendi decided not to come, and he [Hughes] made every effort; he tried everything to bring him in. But if a player doesn’t want to come, it’s obvious that he is not coming.”
The Dutch manager also played down speculations linking Luis Diaz with a move away from Liverpool this summer:
“When I walked in here, there was a screen from Sky Sports, and I said, ‘The whole day it’s talking about football?’ So, there is a lot of speculation constantly in this country; that is clear to me. So it’s not a surprise if I hear you saying there is also [speculation about] Luis Diaz. Is there any player they don’t talk about? A few, OK! His future is with us because I really like what I’ve seen in the last 10 days, and I saw the same last season. He’s had a big impact on Liverpool’s seasons, and I’m hoping he has a big impact in the upcoming season as well.”
Arne Slot was appointed as Jurgen Klopp’s successor in May 2024, as Liverpool agreed on a £9.4 million ($11.9m) compensation package with Feyenoord earlier that month and quickly reached an agreement on personal terms with Slot.
