Arne Slot, the new manager at Liverpool, has confirmed that the club is still actively seeking to strengthen its squad despite missing out on the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi. Slot replaced Jürgen Klopp, who led the Reds to Carabao Cup glory and a third-place finish in the Premier League last season, following his departure at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Slot's first match in the English top flight will be against newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 BST. In his pre-match press conference, the Dutchman acknowledged the ongoing transfer activity, stating, "We are always talking about transfers, but it's also very positive that we kept our players and they are in a good place. Jürgen left the team in a good shape, and we are trying to build from there."
He expressed optimism about the squad's potential, highlighting their recent success: "Last season was also a season where they won a trophy with this team, so we are hoping and aiming for the same. But it's not going to be easy because there are a lot of good and strong teams in the Premier League who have strengthened their squads. We are looking forward to the challenge."
This summer has seen several departures from Anfield, with Fabio Carvalho joining Brentford for a fee of £27.5 million, while defenders Joel Matip and centre-back Virgil van Dijk, midfielder Thiago Alcantara, and goalkeeper Adrian have all left the club.
When questioned about the potential impact of not adding further players to the squad, Slot dismissed the suggestion that it would weaken the team, stating, "If you donât strengthen the team you get weaker, thatâs a bit weird. Normally, you either stay the same, and I truly believe on the training ground that you can help players and the team to improve."
He added, "Maybe what you mean is if the clubs around you strengthen the team then maybe they become better, but itâs not always true that if you bring in players that the team become stronger. We - and I mean Richard [Arnold, the clubâs chief executive] and me - are trying to strengthen the squad, and if we think weâve found someone we try to bring him in. Unfortunately, the one we thought could help us said no. In the background, Richard is trying to improve the team, but my main focus is on Ipswich."
Slot's comments confirm that Liverpool are actively seeking to bolster their squad, despite the setback of missing out on Zubimendi, and will continue their pursuit of new signings. However, his immediate focus is on securing a positive start to the Premier League season against Ipswich Town.
