Slot's 'extra weapons' vow coming true as Liverpool on verge of 2 transfers

Arne Slot has been sparing in his use of new Liverpool signing Federico Chiesa this season but appears to have an idea of how to strengthen his squad over the summer

Liverpool manager Arne Slot hinted at introducing extra weapons into his squad, and it appears the Reds are getting their business done early this summer. The activity is designed to ensure the manager is able to confidently rotate next term and avoid the mini-slump which saw his team exit the Champions League and lose the Carabao Cup final.

Slot's team have romped to the Premier League title, but there were moments where it looked as though they could be on course for multiple trophies. That wasn't to be, though, with a lack of depth and apparent tiredness of first-teamers costing Liverpool dear as Slot appeared reluctant to call upon new man Federico Chiesa and some other fringe stars.

"As we all know, we went out of the cup in Plymouth, and against PSV (in the Champions League's league phase) we lost, which wasn't an important game anymore," Slot said. "And I think I made six substitutions against Paris Saint-Germain, where the extra time wasn't our best period of the game.

“If I look at the way we think about next season and our squad, these are things that are on my mind. I think we can find one or two extra weapons that this team doesn’t have."

Those first weapons look like coming at full-back, where the Reds faced some questions earlier this season. Jeremie Frimpong is on the verge of a £30million move from Bayer Leverkusen, while talks continue to progress over a swoop for Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, the full-backs who started Liverpool's Champions League finals under Jurgen Klopp in 2018, 2019 and 2022, have continued to play regularly this term. Alexander-Arnold won't be at the club next season, though, having confirmed his plans to leave when his contract expires.

Robertson has played regularly at left-back despite beginning to show some cracks, with Kostas Tsimikas rarely trusted in bigger games. On the right, Alexander-Arnold's deputy Conor Bradley has had a tough time with injuries, meaning the likes of Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah have featured in an unfamiliar role.

Bradley is going nowhere, though. The Northern Ireland international has signed a new long-term deal at Anfield and will compete with Frimpong for a starting spot next term.

When asked what he wants to achieve after signing his extension, Bradley said: "To play even more games but also to win more trophies. I think the whole point of playing football is obviously to win trophies and be successful.

"So the more of them we can win, the better it will be for me and the whole team. Hopefully if we can keep doing that it'll be a good next few years at the club."