Sir Kenny Dalglish has called on Fenway Sports Group (FSG) to provide full support to Liverpool in the upcoming transfer market should head coach Arne Slot wish to boost his ranks this summer. The Dutchman has masterminded the Reds’ Premier League glory in his debut season at the helm, capping it off with Sunday’s dominant 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur to seal the title.
Slot has largely worked wonders with the squad he inherited after taking over from Jurgen Klopp, making a solitary $13 million signing of Federico Chiesa from Juventus. In terms of exits from Anfield, last summer saw Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip, and Adrian moving on.
The Reds are tipped to amp up their engagement in the upcoming transfer period, having already sealed a $39M deal with Valencia for Giorgi Mamardashvili.
With speculation swirling about potential acquisitions, especially for a new striker and left-back, and with some current players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contract is winding down, linked with departures, Liverpool looks set to be busier than before.
Kop icon Dalglish, who now serves as a non-executive director at Liverpool, insists that the club cannot afford to rest on its laurels following title triumph and should readily back Slot in his efforts to refine his squad through the transfer window.
“Let him manage, let him get on with the job,” advised Dalglish. “Why does he need to change what he’s done?
“He might change players. If he wants to, they should give him as much help as they possibly can.
“So just repeat it. There’s nothing that really needs to be changed within the framework of what he did, the principles he went about with, the respect he has for the players.
“But if he wants to buy people, then hopefully there will be finance there for him.
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“But he won’t take it for granted and won’t rest on their laurels. Everybody is enjoying the moment, now they’re just going to look ahead and get themselves organised for next season.
“I think if you stand still, if you don’t try to move forward – you’re always looking forward but if you stand still, you’re going to get left behind.
“I think everybody would be doing the same thing. Long before the end of any particular season, you’re looking to the next season and judging the boys in what they do.
“I don’t think there’s too many that have let them down, if any. But he’s still got to strengthen up for next year, in his mind, if that’s what he thinks.
“If he’s happy with what he’s got then give him all the support you can because he’s done fantastic this year.”
In the meantime, Dalglish has lauded Slot for guiding Liverpool to the title, conceding that no one could have expected more from the Dutchman after stepping into Klopp’s shoes.
“Obviously Jurgen had done a fantastic job at Liverpool,” Dalglish remarked on Anfield Index’s ‘The King and AI podcast’. “He decided to leave. Not because results were poor, but because he just felt a bit tired, which is his right. Everybody’s grateful for the work that he did for the football club.
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“Arne was appointed, Jurgen gave it a good send-off when he asked them (the supporters) to chant and support Arne during the season. Arne’s come in and he’s done an excellent job.
“The way he’s treated the players, he’s tried to have a good look at them first before he decides what he wants to do. I think it’s a real credit to him…
“He won the league and nobody could ask any more of the man than what he did. I’m sure his mind would be turned off for about 24 hours and then he’d be looking to see what we’re going to do next year! And this year’s not even finished yet!
“He should be really proud of what he’s done, him and all his staff and everybody at the football club.
“But next year, if we’re having the same conversation, he’ll be twice as proud if he can repeat it. He’s managed brilliantly.”
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Liverpool ECHO by clicking here.
