Arne Slot &#8211; CaughtOffside

Liverpool looking to steal 6ft 5in player from Aston Villa

Returning Arsenal star praises key figure who was “very supportive” during lengthy injury

Exclusive: Arsenal transfer target could move for €25-30m, two other clubs have had bids rejected so far

Arne Slot makes major Liverpool transfer decision

According to The Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele, Liverpool have not signed any players this summer as a result of Slot wanting to fully assess his squad during the Reds’ upcoming pre-season tour of the United States.

The Premier League giants’ last game on this tour is against Man United on August 3 in South Carolina, therefore, the final month of the transfer window could be very busy for Liverpool.

Although this may worry fans, this is the correct approach as Klopp left a strong squad behind at Anfield for Slot – evident in their premature Premier League title challenge last term.

The Merseyside club need two or three quality additions before the transfer window shuts and Slot will know exactly what areas need to be strengthened once the final whistle goes in South Carolina on August 3.

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Major Liverpool star ready to leave his holiday to join Reds’ pre-season soon

Darren Looney — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 15:50:10 +0000

Argentina star Alexis Mac Allister is set to participate in Liverpool’s pre-season tour of America as the Copa America winner will return at the start of August.

The 25-year-old experienced another magical tournament with Argentina over the summer as the

Lionel Scaloni’s men needed extra time in the final to beat Colombia 1-0 and his squad are now enjoying a deserved holiday following their achievement. Mac Allister played a key role in Argentina’s success and after some doubts, the former Brighton star will now participate in Liverpool’s pre-season tour of America.

According to DAVEOCKOP, the Argentina star will join up with the rest of Arne Slot’s squad on August 2, which means he could be available for selection when the Merseyside club play Man United on August 3 in South Carolina.

The Reds play Sevilla in their final pre-season clash at Anfield on August 11 and it will be this game where Mac Allister will get a lot of minutes.

Alexis Mac Allister to return to Liverpool action soon

Not an ideal pre-season for Arne Slot at Liverpool

This summer has not been ideal for Arne Slot as he prepares his Liverpool squad for the 2024/25 campaign.

Pre-season is crucial for a new manager as he needs to implement his ideas and the Dutch coach has been without the majority of his main stars due to Euro 2024 and Copa America.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez are all still away after their nations got to the more advanced stages of the competitions they were involved in and are not expected back before the start of the US tour.

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Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo were some of the bigger names who played for the Reds in their first pre-season friendly on Friday against Preston North End.

Slot must get players back as soon as possible as it remains to be seen how this will affect Liverpool throughout the opening part of the campaign.

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Liverpool one of eight clubs who could hold key to Juve’s bid for Teun Koopmeiners

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 06:57:03 +0000

It seems to have been clear for a while now that Thiago Motta’s priority signing for Juventus is Atalanta’s brilliant Dutch midfielder, Teun Koopmeiners.

Football Italia are just one of many outlets to detail the possibility of any deal occurring, though with pre-season already having begun for most European teams, the Bianconeri still haven’t landed the 26-year-old.

The reason for that is simple. Juve can’t afford the player unless they sell other players first, and they’re having difficulties in doing so.

Teun Koopmeiners going nowhere at present

According to Tuttosport, the Serie A giants are trying to offload Matias Soule, and both West Ham and Leicester City have made bids for the young Argentine talent.

However, their €25m (+€5m in add-ons) bids, identical to Roma’s which is the player’s preference as to a new playing destination, all fall well short of Juve’s €35m asking price.

It would appear to be the same story as far as Dean Huijsen is concerned.

Teun Koopmeiners is wanted by Juventus

Tuttosport note that there are eight clubs interested in the 19-year-old centre-back; Liverpool, Newcastle, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Stuttgart.

Not one of them are willing to meet Juve’s €30m asking price, which puts the Koopmeiners deal in danger of collapsing.

It’s understood that Serie A’s ‘Old Lady’ have agreed personal terms with Koopmeiners, but the deal is destined to fail unless they perhaps consider lowering their demands.

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Jul 23 2024, 14:26

Liverpool looking to steal 6ft 5in player from Aston Villa

Jul 23 2024, 14:02

Returning Arsenal star praises key figure who was “very supportive” during lengthy injury

Jul 23 2024, 14:00

What Juve don’t want to happen is for the player to be holding out in the hope they come calling again, but then gets to the point where he doesn’t believe the transfer will happen and so pulls the plug on the deal himself.

Therefore, the ball is very much in Juve’s court, with Liverpool one of those clubs that can unlock the current impasse.

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“Liverpool are waiting for him” – Fabrizio Romano delivers update on world class centre-back

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 08:30:00 +0000

Pre-season is already well underway for most clubs, with Liverpool’s players getting to grips with life under new manager, Arne Slot.

The 45-year-old Dutchman has it all to do in terms of convincing his playing staff that he’s the right man for the job, after nine years of them working under Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool waiting for world class centre-back

The German certainly left an indelible mark at Anfield, and Slot is bound to feel the weight of that as his more senior players return from international duty.

Things won’t be the same at the club now or ever, and if the Reds want to be successful then Slot is going to need immediate buy in from everyone.

He comes highly recommended thanks to the work he did in the Eredivisie with Feyernood, but with respect, the Premier League is a level above the Dutch top-flight.

New Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, will soon get to work with countryman, Virgil van Dijk

The move also represents the first time Slot has taken a job professionally outside of the Netherlands.

It’s key that club captain, and fellow Dutchman, Virgil van Dijk, provides the link between manager and first-team, with the club eager to see him return.

“Lots of rumours surrounding Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, but as we already mentioned here the day after his recent statement guys, so far the situation is quiet,” Fabrizio Romano said in his exclusive Daily Briefing for CaughtOffside.

“Liverpool have not received any proposal, Virgil is on holiday, so again it’s quiet around van Dijk and Liverpool are waiting for him to come back from his holidays.”

With the new Premier League season only four weeks away, Slot will surely hope that van Dijk can hit the ground running in training and pre-season as soon as he’s back from a well deserved rest.

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Exclusive: €45m-rated left-back remains an option for Liverpool despite Premier League interest

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 07:52:42 +0000

As the new Premier League season begins to peak over the horizon, so Liverpool and their English top-flight rivals will start to shape their squads for 2024/25.

Those players who have been involved in the European Championship or Copa America won’t be back in training for a while now, but many first-team players have already returned to their respective clubs for pre-season.

Within a fortnight, many will be expected to have departed for overseas tours when, ideally, most clubs will have done the majority of their transfer business.

Liverpool enquire about Rayan Ait-Nouri

Indeed, Liverpool begin a tour of America on July 27 with a game against Real Betis in Pittsburgh.

By then it should be known whether they’ve managed to land Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 23-year-old Algerian left-back, Rayan Ait-Nouri.

According to CaughtOffside sources with knowledge of the situation, Ait-Nouri also remains an option for the Reds Premier League opponents, Manchester City and Chelsea.

The player is apparently open to leaving the Midlands-based outfit if he receives an acceptable offer in terms of length of contract and remuneration.

Rayan Ait-Nouri to Liverpool?

From Wolves’ point of view, they have set a price tag of around €45m for Ait-Nouri and don’t intend to allow the Algerian to leave for anything less.

The situation as it stands currently, according to CaughtOffside sources, is that representatives from those Premier League clubs mentioned have already met with Wolves to gather information about the player and understand all of the conditions required to be met in order for a deal to progress to completion.

As of this moment none have made a move, though should Liverpool do so for example, Andrew Robertson is likely to be one player that might be looking over his shoulder from next season onwards.

If Ait-Nouri signs, he’ll surely expect to be first choice, and that’s bound to put Robertson’s nose out of joint.

Ditto if the player ends up at either the Etihad Stadium or Stamford Bridge.

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Embarrassing reason why Liverpool pulled out of the Leny Yoro deal allowing Man United a free run

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 06:27:24 +0000

Lille’s brilliant centre-back, Leny Yoro, has been one of the most sought after transfers of the summer, and though Liverpool were apparently interested in bringing the player to Anfield, it’s their north west rivals, Man United, that have won the race for his services.

It wasn’t a secret that the player wanted to join La Liga champions, Real Madrid, however, Los Blancos were not forthcoming with a significant enough offer.

???? Real Madrid, also informed of Leny Yoro’s travel to Manchester to finalize his move to United.

Real have always been clear: €20/25m for Yoro this summer or join as free agent in 2025.

He’s now in Manchester to undergo medical at Man United. ?? pic.twitter.com/zZNEoJyeeL

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 17, 2024

That apparent snub may well have made the 18-year-old think again about moving to the Santiago Bernabeu, potentially for free next summer, and allowed United to get the deal over the line.

With Arne Slot believed to want another centre-back at Liverpool, and Yoro being the perfect fit, Reds fans might be concerned as to why a deal was never forthcoming.

As Mirror note, the truth is quite the embarrassment to the club.

The outlet suggest that Liverpool believed Yoro was moving to Real Madrid and so they backed out of the deal.

Liverpool allow Man United a free run at Leny Yoro

Unlike United who continued to seize the initiative, and which has clearly eventually paid off, Liverpool walked away with their tails between their legs.

That Yoro will now be turning out for their fiercest Premier League rivals will surely only add to supporter ire.

It’s clearly a lesson in negotiation for the Reds and their owners, and they’ll not want to be blindsided again if there are any other deals to be done.

With pre-season already having started for clubs too, there’s no time to waste in the transfer market.

The 2024/25 campaign will soon be upon us, and the quicker that Liverpool can bed down their first-team squad, the better for all concerned.

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Exclusive: Romano’s definitive update on Real pursuit of Liverpool ace Trent Alexander-Arnold

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 07:00:00 +0000

It hasn’t been the best summer for Liverpool and England star, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

A match-winning penalty in the European Championship was about as good as it got for the right-back cum midfielder, as Gareth Southgate evidently preferred a starting XI – particularly later in the tournament – that didn’t include him.

For so long one of the poster boys for his generation of players, Trent’s form has been patchy at best over the last 12-18 months.

No new updates on Trent says Romano

When he’s good, he’s brilliant, but if he’s off his game, it’s very noticeable indeed.

Perhaps that’s why Gareth Southgate kept him in reserve for the most part of Euro 2024 to see if he could become the impact player everyone hoped that he might.

From a club perspective, he has another 12 months to run on his contract, and as yet there doesn’t seem to be any movement on the player’s side to extend it.

Arne Slot and his backroom staff will want a settled group as the Dutchman gets to grips with his new role and Anfield, so it’s imperative that Trent’s situation is clarified soonest.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has yet to agree a new deal with Liverpool.

“There’s no update on Trent Alexander-Arnold at the moment,” Fabrizio Romano said to CaughtOffside for his Daily Briefing.

“I shared in March that Real Madrid are monitoring the situation and this remains the case, nothing fresh or new so far.

“Real Madrid are just attentive to many situations of good players with short contracts, Alexander-Arnold is one of them.”

You can never say never in football of course, so a move to the Santiago Bernabeu can’t be ruled out at this stage.

The nearer Liverpool get to the end of the transfer window too, the harder it’s going to become for the Reds to negotiate a favourable deal for all parties.

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Arne Slot gives Mohamed Salah fitness update as forward returns to Liverpool training

CJ — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 14:26:00 +0000

Arne Slot says Liverpool star forward Mohamed Salah has returned from the summer break looking ‘strong’.

Alongside Wataru Endo, Salah was given an extra five days off before joining up with the Liverpool squad at their AXA Training Centre on Wednesday, with the latter sporting an unfamiliar shaved head.

pic.twitter.com/wDrT5Gh5PZ

— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) July 12, 2024

Salah enjoyed another excellent season at Anfield in 2023/24, notching 25 goals and 14 assists in 44 appearances across all competitions to help the Reds finish third in the Premier League and win the EFL Cup.

New Liverpool boss Slot — who takes over from Jurgen Klopp — has had his first look at Salah after the Egyptian began his pre-season preparations and has been impressed with what he’s seen so far.

“Mo came back strong, he was really fit,” Slot told Liverpool’s official website. “That’s what I think he always has been but it’s the same this year.

“What you want from them, like I said, is to set the example for the youngsters as well. For them, it’s very important – just like the other ones from the first team – that they stay fit. They are full of energy and that’s the most important thing at the moment; keep them fit, build it up from there and try to teach them as much as we can.”

Liverpool prepare for Slot’s debut season

Given the standards set during Klopp’s time at Anfield, Slot will be under pressure to deliver in his debut season.

The Reds kick off with a trip to newly-promoted Ipswich at lunchtime on Saturday, August 17th. But first, they have friendlies to look forward to against Spanish duo Real Betis and Sevilla, with clashes against Premier League rivals Arsenal and Man Utd in the United States sandwiched between.

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Former assistant of David Moyes in talks to become part of Liverpool’s coaching staff

Charlie Patrick — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 20:28:25 +0000

Former West Ham assistant Johnny Heitinga has revealed he’s in talks with Liverpool over becoming part of Arne Slot’s coaching set-up.

Heitinga is currently out of work having left the Hammers with David Moyes at the end of last season.

It’s all change at the London Stadium with the newly appointed Julen Lopetegui now in charge, and the Hammers have been getting to work in strengthening their squad.

Heitinga reveals he’s in talks with Liverpool

Heitinga, a former Everton defender was surprisingly named as one of Moyes’ assistants last September and it appears he might not be out of work for long.

The 40-year-old could be set for an immediate return after revealing he’s been talks with Liverpool over becoming part of Slot’s coaching staff.

Heitinga could be set to become part of Liverpool’s coaching staff.

“The only thing I can say now is that I have been approached (by Liverpool) and that my agent Rob Jansen and I are in talks,” he told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf.

Heitinga joined the Hammers after leaving Ajax following a short spell in charge of the Dutch giants.

The former defender spent five years playing for Liverpool’s rivals Everton but that doesn’t appear to be putting him off a potential link up with fellow countryman Slot, who appears to still be finalising his coaching staff ahead of the new season.

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Whilst there’s plenty of change at West Ham this summer, there’s arguably more at Anfield following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, and Liverpool are somewhat heading into the unknown next season as they prepare for a new era under Slot.

Liverpool haven’t been active in the transfer market and are yet to make a signing, and maybe they are waiting until Slot has finalised his coaching staff before making an approach for any players, with the Reds needing to add to their squad having fallen away in the title race at the end of last season.

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Arne Slot to give 22-year-old a chance at Liverpool after Reds reject offers from Bundesliga clubs

Darren Looney — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 21:02:24 +0000

Arne Slot is set to give Sepp van den Berg a chance to prove himself at Liverpool during their pre-season preparations following the Premier League club rejecting offers from two Bundesliga clubs.

According to The Athletic, Mainz and Wolfsburg have seen their bids for the 22-year-old rejected by the Merseyside club having become interested in the Dutch player following his performances in Germany last season.

Van den Berg enjoyed a successful season on loan at Mainz, where he featured in 33 Bundesliga games for the club, scoring three goals throughout the campaign. The youngster clearly impressed the German outfit as they are eager to sign him permanently ahead of the new season getting underway next month.

The report states that PSV Eindhoven have also shown interest in the Dutch centre-back, who is valued by Liverpool at around £20million.

Van den Berg will be given the chance to prove his worth to Arne Slot during the Reds’ pre-season tour of the United States and after that, the player’s future will be decided.

Sepp van den Berg in action for Liverpool

Arne Slot to assess Sepp van den Berg during Liverpool’s pre-season tour

The Athletic states that Van den Berg has impressed Slot since he returned to Kirkby for pre-season training last week with the Dutch coach believing that the defender’s technical ability went up a level during his time in Germany last season.

The 22-year-old has yet to be given a proper chance at Liverpool as he has spent most of his time out on loan since joining the Merseyside club from Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle in 2019.

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