The Arne Slot era at Liverpool will soon be underway. Having been confirmed as the club’s new head coach on Monday, the former Feyenoord boss will officially begin his new role on June 1, although he has already been sent a warning by one of his predecessors.
Slot will have plenty of work to do as he and new sporting director Richard Hughes get down to business over the summer. Already, the Reds are beginning to receive interest in their players, with a potential loan to the Championship being touted for one youngster. Here’s your round-up of the latest Liverpool news.
Rafael Benítez sends transfer warning to Arne Slot
Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has warned Arne Slot he will need to get his first signings at Liverpool right if he is to become a success.
Virgil van Dijk and Jürgen Klopp agree on situation Arne Slot is walking into at Liverpool
Jürgen Klopp stance clear as Chelsea fans want ex-Liverpool boss to replace Mauricio Pochettino
Slot will officially take over from Jürgen Klopp on June 1, having had his appointment confirmed by the club on Monday. The Dutchman though has been warned by one of his predecessors ahead of his first summer in charge at Anfield.
“If you ask my opinion on what awaits Arne Slot, it is important to remember the context because you have to compare Liverpool now to when I joined in 2004,” Benítez wrote in a column for The Telegraph.
“Following Jürgen Klopp is not easy, but the most important question for any manager going into a new club is always, ‘How good are the players?’ and ‘Can they fit how we want to play?’
“If you already have a good team, you can win straight away. There may not be too much to do in the transfer market. But if you are taking over a team coming to the end of a cycle, or where big players want to leave, the challenge is different. Players in their mid-30s will not perform like they did at 28. They are already in decline.
“The first two or three signings for the new manager are always massive. You have to get it right straight away. When I joined Liverpool, there was a lot of work to do. Chelsea were very strong and were spending a lot of money. Manchester United were already there, always competing for the title.”
Hull City interested in James McConnell loan
Liverpool is already receiving transfer interest for one of its players ahead of the summer. According to the Hull Daily Mail, Hull City is looking at James McConnell for a potential loan next season.
McConnell has feature nine times for the Reds’ senior side this season, including a substitute appearance in the Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea earlier this year. He could be one of the younger stars earmarked for a loan next season as Liverpool looks to give more opportunities to some of its up-and-coming players.
Hull already has a proven track record with the Reds’ players. Both Tyler Morton and Fábio Carvalho impressed while on loan with the Yorkshire side this season, with the former making 41 appearances while the latter played 20 games, scoring nine goals in the process after joining in January.
The Tigers though are on the lookout for a new manager after Liam Rosenior was sacked after failing to reach the Championship playoffs, which could factor in to any decision Liverpool makes about sending players back to the MKM Stadium.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
