Arne Slot insists a lack of transfer business will not damage Liverpool’s chances of success this season.
The Dutchman confirmed that the club missed out on the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi after the Spain international opted to stay at Real Sociedad.
However, Slot has a fully fit squad heading into Saturday’s Premier League opener at Ipswich Town and is confident about the talent he does have at his disposal.
“I’ve said many times already our squad is really strong and it’s not easy to find players who can help us or strengthen the squad,” he said.
“Zubimendi was one of them to be fair but he decided not to come. We go forward with the ones we have. We are in a good place.
“In the background (sporting director) Richard (Hughes) is trying to strengthen the squad. He did every effort and tried everything to bring Zubimendi in but if a player doesn’t want to come, it’s obvious he’s not coming.
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”At this moment the whole team has stayed together. We lost Joel Matip, Thiago and Adrian, but the rest of the team stayed together and that’s a very positive thing. We are always talking here about transfers but it’s positive that we have kept our players.
“Jurgen (Klopp) left the team in a good place and we are trying to build from there. Last season they won a trophy with this team – we are aiming for the same this season. It’s not going to be easy as there are a lot of strong teams in the Premier League who have strengthened their squad but we are looking forward to the challenge.“
Slot said sporting director Hughes continues to work on potential deals (John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool are the only top-flight club yet to make a signing this summer but Slot dismissed suggestions that the squad is weaker than last season. He sees development coming from within as he helps younger players fulfil their potential.
He added: ”That argument I don’t understand. If you don’t strengthen the team you become weaker?
“That’s a bit weird as normally you’d either stay the same or I truly believe on the training ground you can help players to improve. That’s what happened here in recent years. The training ground really helped the team improve.
”Maybe what you mean is that if the clubs around you strengthen their team then maybe they become better, but it’s not always true that if you bring in new players the team becomes stronger.
“I also believe in general that every player in the team needs to have perspective on playing time, and if you keep bringing players in then sometimes the energy in the group goes down as well.
”Richard and me are trying to strengthen the squad, and if we think we have found someone we’ll try to bring them in. Unfortunately the one we thought could help us said no. In the background Richard is trying to improve the team but my main focus now is on Ipswich.“
Luis Diaz’s future has been the subject of ongoing speculation this summer but Slot is adamant that the Colombia forward is going nowhere in this window.
”It’s not a surprise if you tell me if there’s some speculation about Luis Diaz,“ Slot said.
”His future is with us because I like a lot what I’ve seen in the last 10 days he’s been in and I saw the same last season. He’s had a big impact on Liverpool and I am hoping he has a big impact on the upcoming season as well.“
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(Barrington Coombs/Getty Images)
