Liverpool are flying high in the Premier League, and Arne Slot is being praised for his work so far.
When Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool at the end of last season, it signalled the end of an era.
The club made internal changes, with Michael Edwards rejoining in a senior role and Richard Hughes appointed sporting director.
While everyone was certain that there would be continuity, very few had expected the transition to be this smooth.
Arne Slot was very happy with the squad he inherited from Klopp, and he didn’t feel the need to make any changes.
The core group has remained the same, and all Slot did was make a few tweaks to the playing style and system. It is still quite similar to Klopp’s set-up, but the minor tweaks have made big differences already.
Liverpool eyeing a new left-back next summer
With Hughes and Edwards at the helm, the transfer part should be taken good care of.
The Reds could be looking to sign a new left-back next summer, and they are reportedly planning to replace Andy Robertson.
According to a report from the Sunday Mirror, Liverpool are showing keen interest in AFC Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.
The Reds want the 21-year-old defender as a replacement for Robertson and they are “desperate” to sign him.
Hughes was the sporting director at Bournemouth before he joined Liverpool, and it is not hard to understand who is behind the move to bring the young talent to Anfield.
Manchester United and Chelsea are also interested in signing Kerkez, who is valued at around £50 million. He joined the Cherries in July last year for £15m, and is seen as one of the club’s best captures.
His price has skyrocketed following his “outstanding” performances for the club. He recently provided two assists in Bournemouth’s 2-1 win over Manchester City, and Liverpool are more than keen to land him.
The curious case of Andy Robertson
There is no doubt that Robertson’s form has dipped a bit, but he is still a key player under Slot. The Scottish defender started against Aston Villa and did a terrific job.
The 30-year-old defender has a contract at Anfield until 2026, and Liverpool can still get a sizeable fee from his sale next summer.
Kerkez is strong defensively (1.4 interceptions), and he is very good at ball retention. His ball recovery rate stands at 4.4 per game, which could be a big factor in selecting him as a major target for Liverpool next summer.
He can still improve a lot and could become an even better player under Slot’s guidance.
In other Liverpool news, 25-year-old player could soon find himself on the bench after what Slot has said.
