Arne Slot brings new ‘theory’ to Liverpool – now it’s time to put transfer plans into practice

Those around Liverpool the team might joke that it was an even more inevitable development than the club making signings. Players have, predictably, now started talking amongst themselves about the considerable contrasts between Arne Slottraining sessions and Jurgen Klopp‘s.

This does not mean that they are better or worse, but they are “different”. Gamers can’t help but notice this, which is quite natural when someone moves from one daily work environment to another. Slot sessions are described as much more technical, almost more about “the theory”.

If the team has already had a chance to meet your new boss, your new boss has had more than enough time to get to know your new boss. feel for the team. In short, Slot now has more control over what he wants and needs. The belief around Liverpool is that transfer business will finally accelerate next week when the opening Premier League game away to Ipswich Town on August 18 is announced. In the next 10 days we will probably see the first concrete proposals presented.

Liverpool are now looking for a central defender, a defensive midfielder and a wing forward, although potentially two of the latter. The best known of these is Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon, who has long been very interested in moving.

It is still an exaggeration to say that any deal with Liverpool was reached before the June 30 Profit and Sustainability Rules deadline in the middle of the Euros, despite rumors about medical tests being scheduled. The two clubs were a little separated.

Liverpool’s persistent interest may surprise people, as the pressure on Newcastle to sell around this time would certainly have made it an opportune time for a purchase, but some other clubs and market figures suspect that the St James Park hierarchy could make another big sale for his own plans.

This would almost certainly mean the departure of Aleksandar Isak, Bruno Guimarães or Gordon if necessary. Arsenal are interested in the first two, but Newcastle are not willing to do business. They are also, in turn, “putting their foot in” Gordon.

This means Liverpool may have to go very high to secure the 23-year-old, which could be worth up to £80 million plus add-ons. If there is to be a debate over whether Gordon is worth that, the decision will ultimately be made by Anfield’s revitalized recruitment department, amid a very different market to that which first operated in the seasons surrounding Klopp’s appointment.

Slot requirements would obviously contribute to this, which explains why business is only increasing now.

As always with a department led by Michael Edwards, it’s not just about the short-term needs of the team, but also the medium-term prospects and growth potential of the players.

Gordon can already be electrifying when running with pace, but other elements of his game are believed to have huge room for development. All of this occurs at a time when the hierarchy is also paying attention to the succession plan, with only one year left on Mohamed Salah’s contract.

Elsewhere, as Leny Yoro surprised many in the market with a move to Manchester United, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Willian Pacho has long been seen as a potential midfield option. However, the 22-year-old Ecuadorian could cost around £50m. Liverpool are currently evaluating a tighter market for defensive midfielders in the style they want. The price of players who previously might have been considered, such as Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, has skyrocketed after Euro 2024.

All of this will likely be offset by expenses, with Slot currently deciding who he will make available for sale.

Amidst all this, one thing can be said for sure so far. Slot’s “theory” and his different training translated into promising football in the pre-season. There is the obvious caveat that these are just friendlies, but some of the players are beginning to understand why a prominent figure at a rival club described the Dutch manager as “perhaps the best in the world on the training ground at the moment”.

What matters is the field of real games and, until then, the transfer market.