Arne Slot has launched a staunch defence of Liverpool’s record £450 million summer spending spree, insisting the club got value for money despite a lacklustre start to the season. The Liverpool manager emphasised that the signings would prove to be a “big, big, big success” at Anfield.
Liverpool broke their own transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz for £100m and then the British record to bring in Alexander Isak for £125m. However, the team currently sits sixth in the Premier League, with Isak netting only three goals in 17 games before suffering a broken leg. Slot remains confident in the squad assembled, which also includes top scorer Hugo Ekitike, full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, injured centre-back Giovanni Leoni, and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Slot pointed out that the net spend is closer to £300m due to around £300m in player sales. He also highlighted that injuries have prevented him from fielding his strongest side, estimating that £300m worth of talent will be unavailable for the upcoming match against West Ham. Leoni is out for the season, Isak for several more weeks, and Wirtz is struggling with a back problem.
“In general I only ever see, ‘£450m spent, 450, 450, 450’,” Slot said. “And no one looks at the circumstances, which are that the £450m is very well spent, very, very, very well spent.” He urged patience with new arrivals, noting that Isak was signed for six years, not six months, and that others needed time to adapt.
