Arne Slot insists that his current Liverpool squad are good enough to compete with Manchester City and Arsenal for the Premier League title, but admits that he would be “surprised” if the club did not make new signings this summer.
The Reds have yet to conclude any incoming transfer business to kick off a new era under Jurgen Klopp’s successor, with a very quiet window so far at Anfield despite ongoing links to numerous players including the likes of Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo.
Liverpool have also flown to the USA for their three-match pre-season tour where they will face Real Betis, Arsenal and Manchester United without 11 senior players who are all currently on holiday following their respective involvement at Euro 2024 and the Copa America.
Such significant absences - plus the injury to Andy Robertson - combined with the lack of signings means Slot has had to take a very youthful squad indeed to America.
Asked during a press conference in Pittsburgh on Thursday how busy he expects Liverpool to be in his first transfer window at the helm, the Dutchman replied: “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.”
Pushed on if Liverpool’s lack of transfer business so far this summer was due to him wanting to assess the current squad or rather the result of a lack of available targets, Slot added: “The first one is one of the reasons, me wanting to assess the squad, which is difficult because most of them are still not here.
“And the second one also has to do with the difficulty [that] if you inherited a team that is really good then it's not so easy to find players that are of the same standards or even higher, especially because those ones need to be available as well.
“But like I said, Richard more than me is really working hard on that as well and he keeps me updated every time. If there is any news on that, we will come to you. But like I said, we already have a very good team I'm already really happy with.
“But it would be a surprise for all of us I think if we don't bring any player in, so that will probably happen in the end. But for now, we are just waiting for the players to come back and waiting for the right ones to sign.”
Though Slot is obviously expecting new faces to arrive at Anfield this summer, he believes that the squad he has inherited from Klopp is good enough to challenge for the title next season without any fresh additions.
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“I think the answer lies in last season, where I think five, six, seven games before the end they were still competing with Arsenal and City,” he said. “So there you have your answer: they are good enough to compete.”
Slot would not be drawn on the contract situation of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been the subject of much speculation this week with Liverpool reportedly trying to extend his current deal that expires next summer amid rumoured interest from Real Madrid.
“My answer would probably be a bit boring… I think it's the same answer you've heard in the last five, six or seven years,” Slot said when asked how confident he was of Liverpool agreeing a new deal with the England defender.
“Contract situations are not discussed at this place. But just keep trying [to ask the question], I would say.”
