Arne Slot is yet to make his first Liverpool signing. (Image: Getty)
Arne Slot has been in the hot seat at Liverpool for over a month now, but fans are still waiting for the first statement signing from the Dutchman. Transfer activity for all Premier League clubs has been restricted so far due to Euro 2024, but the Reds have been linked to a host of top stars following the departure of Jurgen Klopp.
The German’s final campaign culminated in anti-climax, with Liverpool eventually third having led the table with just eight games to go.
Slot has been left with plenty of young talent at his disposal, but the need for squad reinforcements became obvious in the 2023/24 campaign as performances petered out both domestically and in Europe.
But with Ibrahima Konate having struggled for form and fitness last season, and Joel Matip now departed, Slot has the ideal carrot to help snare the 24-year-old and leave Ten Hag and co seething. Not only can he offer Champions League football, which United can’t, but also the prospect of partnering his captain at international level, Virgil van Dijk.
Wholesale changes in midfield appear unlikely though. With Mac Allister having progressed into a pivotal club performer as the season wore on, and Harvey Elliott now seemingly ready to become a first team regular, Slot’s big task centres around Dominik Szobsolai.
Could Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt soon be team-mates for club and country? (Image: Getty)
The Hungarian international began his debut season at Anfield by being hailed as the next Steven Gerrard. He ended it more reminiscent of a prime Andriy Voronin, and getting the 23-year-old back to his best could prove as fruitful as any new signing.
But there is another player already at Liverpool who will define their summer transfer window. Mohamed Salah is expected to again be the subject of a huge bid from the Saudi Pro League, and if he refuses to extend his current deal, club chiefs may have little choice but to let him go as opposed to losing him for free next summer.
Slot persuading the Egyptian forward to sign a new contract would be a masterstroke. Not only would it safeguard Liverpool against a huge financial blow, but would also prove a statement of ambition and guarantee the ex-Feyenoord man the services of the club’s most prolific goalscorer in modern times.
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Any reshuffle of forward options could take place around him. Luis Diaz opting to publicly court Barcelona is only likely to end one way, and the injury issues of Diogo Jota, plus the lack of reliability with the erratic Darwin Nunez, means Slot has options if he wants to sell and raise funds.
That money could be used for Liverpool to finally land Anthony Gordon without the need to send a player to Newcastle as part of a swap deal. Leeds star Crysencio Summerville, unlikely to hang around in the Championship, would also be an ideal long-term signing given his age and Slot’s love of slick, attacking football.
Liverpool line-up for 2024/25: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Elliott, Szoboszlai; Summerville, Salah, Summerville.
