Arne Slot has launched an impassioned defence of Liverpool's spending during a summer transfer window that saw the club commit the most in fees ever. Slot addressed what 'people never talk about,' reiterating his belief that discussions lack sufficient focus on the players sold and the money raised. Slot described trying to highlight that Liverpool also sold for £300 million, a point he feels never comes across.
Liverpool broke their transfer record twice to land Florian Wirtz for £116 million and Alexander Isak for £125 million, with Isak moving from Newcastle United on deadline day for a British-record fee. The club also signed Milos Kerkez (£40 million from Bournemouth), Jeremie Frimpong (£29 million from Bayer Leverkusen), Giovanni Leoni (£27 million from Parma), Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29 million from Valencia), and Hugo Ekitike (£79 million from Eintracht Frankfurt). To offset the ambitious period of player trading, the Reds brought in about half that amount through sales, with Slot stating that Liverpool sold players for £300 million in the summer transfer window.
I have tried 450 times to say we also sold for £300m, that never comes across and people never talk about it.
Specific transfer details include Trent Alexander-Arnold being sold for only £10 million to Real Madrid, while the £35 million fee agreed with Aston Villa for Harvey Elliott may not yet be paid as the purchase is triggered only after the midfielder makes 10 Premier League appearances. Slot outlined several reasons why he hasn't been able to use his summer recruits as Liverpool prepare to host West Ham United at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, insisting he hasn't been able to properly utilise many of the players who cost a combined £450 million. Slot described that Alexander Isak's leg break suffered in December at Tottenham Hotspur, successive injury issues for Jeremie Frimpong, and Giovanni Leoni's campaign-ending ACL issue have all contributed.
He added that Frimpong has been many times injured, Leoni is out for the season, and Wirtz, Ekitike, and Kerkez needed time to adapt. Specific performance and injury concerns about key signings include Isak not being the same player as at Newcastle, except maybe for 20 minutes at Tottenham, according to Slot. Slot also noted that Mamardashvili was needed because Caoimhin Kelleher left, but Liverpool hardly played with two goalkeepers.
In general I only ever see, '£450m spent, 450, 450, 450'. And no-one looks at the circumstances, which are that the £450m is very well spent, very, very, very well spent, one more time: very well spent.
Despite these challenges, Slot believes the £450 million spent is very well spent and that the players will be a big success for the club.
They are great football players who will be a big, big, big success for this club. Some already now and some in the future. The reality of this season is we sold for £300m, some starters like Trent Alexander-Arnold sold for only £10m (to Real Madrid). We had to recoup the money with players.
From that spent, then £250m of it. Alex Isak has not been the Alex of Newcastle, maybe for 20 minutes at Tottenham, I don’t criticise him because we signed him for six years not six months.
Giorgi Mamardashvili, we needed him because Caoimhin Kelleher left but we hardly played with two goalkeepers.
Jeremie Frimpong has been many times injured, Giovanni Leoni is out for the season. Tomorrow, I miss out on Florian Wirtz. Him and Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez needed time to adapt.