Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking ahead of the Community Shield clash against Crystal Palace at Wembley on Sunday
09:44, 08 Aug 2025Updated 10:18, 08 Aug 2025
Arne Slot speaks at this morning’s press conference to preview Liverpool’s Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace
Arne Slot refused to be drawn on Liverpool’s interest in Alexander Isak as he reacted to Darwin Nunez’s looming exit from the club. The Reds have agreed a £46.3m deal with Al-Hilal for the Uruguayan.
Meanwhile, Liverpool had an £110m bid turned down by Newcastle United for Isak last Friday, with it understood that club bosses considered it futile to return with an improved offer, given the swiftness and clarity of the rejection.
Yet Isak has made it clear that he wishes to leave Newcastle, with the Reds his preferred destination, and he was ordered to train on his own this week as speculation about his future continues.
READ MORE: Alexander Isak to Liverpool transfer twists set to emerge as £46.3m exit drops major hintREAD MORE: Darwin Nunez £46m transfer agreed as Liverpool push to sign replacement
Slot sidestepped questions about Isak as he insisted he is happy with his current options even if Nunez moves on.
“As you know, from me and I think every manager works like this, you never talk about players that are not yours,” he said of the Swede. “I can talk about Hugo (Ekitike), who we have signed and done really well until now.
“We are very happy with the squad and have every reason to be happy because we won the league last season. Okay, players left but we brought players in as well and youngsters are doing good.
“At this moment of time, Darwin might leave, indeed, but things are not signed so we need to wait a few days until that is completely done but there is indeed a chance he is going to leave.”
Slot added: “We think we already have a lot of attacking power in our team. I think about Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike, Mo Salah, Jeremie Frimpong who can play as a right-winger, Florian Wirtz who can play as a left-winger.
“I already feel I have a lot of attacking options in my squad, but always as a club we are looking at the chances in the market but that can also be in the midfield and the last line.”
Slot would also reiterate his faith in his existing centre-back options as he pointed to the versatility of Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch and Andy Robertson providing additional depth behind Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
“They can definitely play there as well (Endo, Robertson and Gravenberch),” he said. “And you forget to mention Joe Gomez.
“Unfortunately, he has a minor injury at the moment but he will be back with the team very soon.
“We have numerous options who can play there. But as always, it’s the same boring answer as players we may bring in or not, I am really happy with the players we are having.
“We have numerous players who can play that position.”