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ARNE Slot is using Liverpool’s pre-season tour to assess his players before making recruitment and retention decisions after rejecting a bid for Wataru Endo.
The Japanese midfielder was only signed 12 months ago by Jurgen Klopp and was regularly utilised at Anfield. Marseille have lodged a £12million offer as they look to bring Endo to the south of France, but new manager Roberto De Zerbi has received a knock back.
Liverpool have done no business — be that in or out — this summer as the Premier League opening day nears. Slot was hired from Feyenoord and has huge shoes to fill but is keen to remain calm and take a measured approach as he casts his eye over the players he’s inherited.
The Reds’ midfielder underwent a transitional phase last summer as major names — the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho — left the club. They bought in several replacements as a result, spending well over £100m on the likes of Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
Slot has a decision to make on a number of players. Mohamed Salah is perhaps approaching the biggest crossroads as his contract winds down on Merseyside. Darwin Nunez is another expensive asset who continues to be questioned after two years at the club.
The Dutchman commented when he arrived that he would be working with a group who have “really high standards”. Liverpool fell away in the title race late on last term, but did claim the Carabao Cup, and have a strong recent history of competing for silverware.
He said earlier this summer: “I think I said before that the first aim is to work with these players. Of course it’s a disadvantage that many of them are not here yet, I mean the players that are already under contract. The positive about that is that it’s an important lifeline of the club that youngsters come into the team as well, so it’s an ideal way of seeing them in these weeks, where they get a lot of playing time as well.
“The standards are really high when it comes to bringing in new players because we have such a good team and such a good squad. Of course (sporting director) Richard [Hughes] and me and other people as well are trying to improve the squad where possible, but that’s not that easy because we have so many good players.”
Liverpool have been linked with the likes of Anthony Gordon, who previously played on Merseyside with Everton.
The Reds’ business is likely to centre around replacing players they offload with the Anfield outfit currently spoilt for choice in the final third. — Mirror.
Online Reporter