Slot named Liverpool transfer target as he goes in new direction to Klopp

It appears Arne Slot will be taking a different approach to Jurgen Klopp when it comes to Liverpool's transfer targets.

Slot is yet to make a signing as Reds boss, the only manager in the Premier League not to have a new addition to their squad in time for the new season. It's not for a lack of trying, though.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi was identified as a priority signing, but he turned them down in favour of staying in Spain for another season. That rejection was directly addressed by Slot in his first Premier League pre-match press conference this week.

And as noted by journalist David Lynch, he explicitly named Zubimendi when asked about transfers - something Klopp wouldn't like to do until a player had signed on the dotted line and was confirmed as a Liverpool player.

Slot said: "I think our squad is really strong and it’s not so easy to find players who can help us or strengthen the squad. Martin Zubimendi was one of them, to be fair, but he decided not to come, and we go forward with the ones we have and those who have done well in pre-season.

"We’re in a good place. In the background, [sporting director] Richard [Hughes] is trying to strengthen the squad as he can but, unfortunately, Zubimendi decided not to come. He did every effort to bring him in but, if a player decides not to come, then it's obvious he's not coming."

The Dutchman has no concern about their lack of transfer activity given the quality of the squad he inherited from Klopp, particularly considering the midfield rebuild he'd already kickstarted with the signings of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch.

"That argument I don’t understand. If you don’t strengthen the team, you become weaker. That’s a bit weird because normally you would either stay the same," he continued.

"I truly believe that the training ground [is where] you can help players and the team to improve. That is also what happened here in recent years, that the training ground really helped the team to improve."

However, he did confirm they're looking to strengthen before the window closes on August 30. Where on the pitch the reinforcement, or reinforcements, will be remains to be seen.