Liverpool manager Arne Slot revealed the club failed with a bid to bring in Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, as he played down concerns about the Reds being the only team in the English Premier League to not sign a player this transfer window.
“It’s not always true that if you bring in new players the team becomes stronger,” Slot said on Friday, a day before he takes charge of Liverpool’s opening league game of the season at promoted Ipswich.
Slot, who is heading up a new era at Liverpool following the departure of predecessor Juergen Klopp, spoke openly in his pre-match news conference about the attempts
to sign Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.
Zubimendi, a defensive midfielder who helped Spain win the European Championship last month, would have bolstered what is widely seen as the weakest part of Liverpool’s team.
“I said many times I think our squad is strong and it’s not easy to find players who can help us or can even strengthen the squad,” Slot said. “Zubimendi was one of them, to be fair, but he decided not to come.
“In the background, (new sporting director) Richard (Hughes) is trying to strengthen the squad as he can but unfortunately Zubimendi decided not to come. He tried everything to bring him in, but if a player doesn’t want to come, it’s obvious he is
not coming.”
Chelsea, Aston Villa, West Ham and Manchester United are among the teams to have spent heavily on players in this transfer window, leading to frustration among some Liverpool fans that their club has been so inactive in the market.
However, title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal have both only brought in one
new player so far, Savinho and Riccardo Calafiori, respectively — and Slot doesn’t appear concerned.
“I truly believe on the training ground you can help teams to improve. That is also what happened here in the recent years,” he said.
Arteta demands more
Arsenal must step up to another level this season if they are to win the league after two
agonising near misses, manager Mikel Arteta said ahead of his team’s opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Arteta’s side ended with 89 points last season and scored more goals and conceded fewer than in the previous campaign but once again finished runners-up behind Manchester City.
“Break more of those records again and win more points that’s for sure,” the Spaniard told reporters on Friday when asked what Arsenal need to do this season to win the title.
Blow to City
Manchester City will kick off their campaign on Sunday without Oscar Bobb, who could miss up to four months after breaking his leg in training, and Rodri, who is recovering from an injury sustained at Euro 2024.
City open their season against Chelsea.
