Arne Slot insists that his first priority as Liverpool manager is to get the best out of their current squad - with new signings secondary in his thinking.
The Dutchman began work as Jurgen Klopp's successor on June 1 alongside newly-appointed sporting director Richard Hughes. But fans are still waiting for the first signing of Slot's reign, with nearly all of their Premier League rivals already opening the chequebook.
Although the Reds boss acknowledges that he and Hughes need to strengthen the squad, Slot is focussed on working with the players currently available to him in pre-season. Liverpool are now on tour in the USA and speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the ex-Feyenoord manager explained: "The first aim is to work with these players.
"Of course, it's a disadvantage that many of them aren't here yet (due to Euro 2024 and the Copa America). The positive about that is that it's an ideal way to see the younger players and give them playing time.
"The standards are really high when it comes to bringing in new players because we have such a good squad. Of course, Richard and I are trying to improve the squad where possible but that's not that easy."
Explaining why the Reds have taken a patient approach to the transfer market, Slot added: "One of the reasons is me wanting to assess which is difficult because most of them aren't here. And I've inherited a team which is really good, so it's not so easy to find players of the same standard or even higher, especially as those ones need to be available.
"Richard, more than me, is working really hard on that and keeps me updated. If there's any news on that we will come to you. We already have a good team I am happy with but it would be a surprise for all of us if we don't bring any players in. That will probably happen in the end but for now we are waiting for our players to come back and waiting for the right ones to sign."
Slot was looking forward to welcoming Diogo Jota to the Reds' training camp in Pittsburgh on Thursday, although the Portuguese forward won't be involved in their friendly against Real Betis. Team-mates Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch are due to arrive when the second leg of their tour begins in Philadelphia.
Star players Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz will all miss the entirety Liverpool's tour after going deep into international tournaments. The Reds begin their Premier League campaign away to newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday, August 10.