Players Will Not Be Signed Before Arne Slot’s First Press Conference
For most of the Liverpool fanbase desperate for marquee signings and for transfer speculation to turn into signings, they may have to be reluctantly patient for a while longer before any movement on incoming recruits are finalised. Liverpool football club have yet to formally introduce the new head coach, Arne Slot, as the expectant support awaits the first sight of the Dutchman in his new role. Despite Michael Edwards being installed as the Sporting CEO and Richard Hughes assuming the role of Sporting Director, there is little to no chance that new players will be announced before Jürgen Klopp’s replacement has at least presented himself in his first Anfield press conference.
Louis Van Gaal on Arne Slot:
“It’s a big job because Jurgen Klopp has done it fantastically, so he as the successor is always more difficult.”
“But he is a good technical coach. I think at the moment he’s the best technical coach from the Netherlands.
“He was at that time free… pic.twitter.com/vgQwjQrgx6
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) June 9, 2024
Is There Work Being Carried Out…?
Despite this obvious delay in presenting the new boss, I am certain that talks have been undertaken (behind the scenes) by all relevant directors as well as the new head coach. To establish what the squad needs and what can be relinquished, various strategy meetings will have been carried out between heads of departments and the key decision makers. In this peculiar moment where 115 charges are being levelled at the Premier league champions, Manchester City, the Merseyside giants have an opportunity to build for the long-term, in the hope that the greatest team on the planet is about to be reined in and dismissed from elite level football. I have mentioned before how this transfer window is perhaps the most important period of the returning Edwards’ career, given the ongoing regeneration. The Southampton born executive is not just replacing Mike Gordon as the chief executive officer of an historic football club, but is also undertaking the control that was once gifted to the illustrious former manager, something, which meant that all decisions ran through the German until his resignation. In appointing a surprise successor to the former Borussia Dortmund man, the Liverpool hierarchy have gambled on a success, thereby putting themselves in a position where failure could see some of the fan-based turn against them. Based upon this theory, I believe continuous work has been orchestrated and is ongoing. Concerning the various contract extensions of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander Arnold, Andy Robertson, and Virgil van Dijk, those key assets will need their futures established prior to any concrete movement. No plan can be executed until the squads’ needs are established, which makes these next few weeks vital to what comes next.
Gini Wijnaldum giving high praise for new Liverpool boss Arne Slot, “I can compare him to Klopp and Mourinho and then I say that Slot is of the same level” (AD) pic.twitter.com/jwe9uz7QkT
— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) June 9, 2024
In any circumstance, and despite the wants of the many, this period is little more than a waiting game that is needed to align everyone within the club. I believe that once the Reds kick on with preseason, then we will see rapid movement at the doors of the Axa Training Ground, in both directions. What I will say is squads’ that until the now former Feyenoord boss, Arne Slot, is sat in front of the eager reporters and giving his initial address to the fanbase, then nothing in terms of new signings will take place and unfortunately widespread speculation will continue until that point. The transfer window is et to open this coming Friday, which means I expect some type of movement around that time.