Arne Slot has hit back at Liverpool fans’ moans about a lack of transfer activity by insisting he has a sky-high standard for signing new players – and the squad he has inherited is good enough to achieve their targets.
The new Liverpool head coach was talking in Pittsburgh ahead of leg one of a three-stop tour of the United States, where they face Real Betis on Friday evening, and insisted he will not make summer signings for the sake of it.
Asked if the reason they have not bolstered their squad yet, Slot said: ‘Me wanting to assess (the current group), which is difficult because most of them aren’t here. Second, I've inherited a team which is really good so it's not so easy to find players of the same standard or even higher.
‘Richard (Hughes, sporting director), more than me, is working really hard on that and keeps me updated. We already have a good team I am happy with but it would be a surprise for all of us if we don't bring any players in.’
Liverpool are without 11 senior players in the States, with the likes of Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister all on holiday after exerting tournaments for their countries at the European Championship or Copa America.
Arne Slot has played down concerns over Liverpool's lack of transfer activity this summer
The Reds have began stepping up their pre-season preparations in the United States
Diogo Jota was expected to land in Pittsburgh on Thursday, while Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate will join up with the squad in Philadelphia next week. Andy Robertson is on the tour but will not play in any of the three matches due to a minor ankle injury.
The Scotsman is following an individual programme and will be fit for the Premier League opening weekend, where Liverpool travel to newly-promoted Ipswich. As a vice-captain, he is still playing a pivotal role on the tour as a sounding board for younger players.
Slot added: ‘Many things will stay the same when it comes to style with every manager having their own ideas. Players work really hard, we’re looking forward to the game to see if we can bring some positives to the game.
‘I don’t think any player has surprised me. Many young players have joined us and a few have surprised me… in a positive way of course. But if your next question is going to be “who are they?” then you won’t get the answer!’
Liverpool youngster Luke Chambers is on the tour but is expected to join League One side Wigan on loan after the trip. The 19-year-old, who was at the Latics in the latter half of last season, snubbed Championship interest to rejoin Shaun Maloney’s side.