The Arne Slot era at Liverpool is underway. With a busy summer ahead for the new Reds boss, rumors of who could be his first signings are already emerging.
The Dutchman was confirmed as the club’s new head coach on Monday, having agreed to a three-year deal. He will officially begin work on June 1 as he takes over from Jürgen Klopp.
That will line him up nicely for the start of the summer transfer window, although new sporting director Richard Hughes will be doing a lot of the work. Still, Slot will have some big decisions to make on his squad when he arrives on Merseyside.
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Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today, including the latest on Benfica defender António Silva, as well as one of his teammates who Slot will know well.
Orkun Kökçü (Benfica)
Liverpool is looking at Orkun Kökçü as one of Arne Slot’s first signings at the club, according to Turkish outlet Fotospor. The midfielder previously played under Slot at Feyenoord before joining Benfica last summer.
Kökçü has scored seven goals and added 11 assists in Portugal this season. The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League previously, although a reported release clause of around $163m (£128m/€150m) could be a major sticking point.
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Liverpool.com says: That’s just not going to happen, is it? As well as Kökçü has done for Benfica this season, you can’t imagine Liverpool splashing out that much on a single player, let alone one that plays in a position that doesn’t need all that much work on it this summer.
If Slot is hoping to bring any of his former players along with him, he’ll probably have to look elsewhere.
António Silva (Benfica)
Speaking of Benfica, António Silva is again being linked with a move to Liverpool. According to Real Madrid Confidential, the defender will make the move to Anfield in the summer, despite being linked with Los Blancos.
Slot is said to have told Liverpool’s hierarchy, including Michael Edwards, to carry out the summer recruitment even before he arrives on Merseyside. Among the signings they’re claimed to be making is Silva, who could cost as much as $108m (£85m/€100m).
Liverpool.com says: Again, it’s difficult to imagine Liverpool spending that much on a single player, although this one is at least more doable. Liverpool will need a new defender during the summer, and at just 20 years old, Silva would be a good option for the future.
We doubt Slot has told the likes of Edwards and Richard Hughes to get all of the business done before he arrives as manager. For starters, he begins his new job on June 1, which doesn’t give them much time to complete any deals, and Euro 2024 and Copa América taking place will almost certainly complicate matters this summer.