Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Arne Slot, Cody Gakpo, Transfers, Premier League
Marcus Banks
Topics: Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Arne Slot, Cody Gakpo, Transfers, Premier League
Arne Slot is ready to make a big change after replacing Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager.
Slot faces the almost impossible task of replacing the iconic German after being officially unveiled as his replacement last month.
“Jurgen left the club in a really good place, left the team in a really good place," Slot said on the job of replacing Klopp. "In the end we would all love to see Liverpool a bit higher than third place and this is the challenge we are facing now - to build on from what we have."
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The ex-Feyenoord manager will start Liverpool’s pre-season in the coming weeks but has already started to prepare for the upcoming season, according to reports, and is ready to use a player in a new position.
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo is currently on international duty and impressing for the Netherlands, leading the scoring charts with three goals.
After a difficult spell last season where many Liverpool fans questioned his performances, Gakpo had a strong end to the season after returning to the left wing position he predominantly played for PSV Eindhoven.
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Gakpo has been impressive in the same role for his national team but Slot appears to have different ideas for his countryman.
The 25-year-old has played across all positions in the forward line under Klopp but will be used exclusively as the club’s centre-forward under Slot as per Football Insider.
Gakpo will face competition from the club’s record-signing Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota for a starting role down the middle, with all three players competent playing out wide.
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Liverpool have been linked with signing a new left-sided forward in the summer window but rejected the opportunity to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle.
The Magpies needed to offload players in order to meet the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations and reluctantly entertained the prospect of Gordon, a boyhood Liverpool fan, moving to Anfield.
It has been reported Newcastle wanted to include defender Jarell Quansah in any deal and Liverpool had no interest in allowing the promising academy product to leave which led to talks collapsing.
Gordon was believed to be interested in the switch and it remains to be seen whether Slot will revive the club’s interest in the remainder of the window.