Arne Slot 'cuts' four Liverpool players from his squad as club's transfer business goes into overdrive

 

Arne Slot has cut four Liverpool players from the first-team ahead of the new season.

Arne Slot has ‘cut’ four players from Liverpool’s first-team ahead of the new season, according to a report.

Liverpool have been quiet during the summer transfer window as they have yet to sign any new players ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

But the Reds are set to acquire the services of teenage starlet Rio Ngumoha and are in pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

But incomings could be on the horizon judging by the Liverpool boss cutting four players from the first-team.

According to the Mirror, Ben Doak, Tyler Morton, Lewis Koumas and Harvey Blair were a part of the club’s under-21s squad as they beat Ipswich 5-2 in a behind-closed-doors friendly game.

They all featured for Liverpool on their pre-season tour of the United States but have returned to the under-21s ahead of the new season.

The quartet have been linked with a move away from Anfield this summer.

Doak is expected to leave on loan, with Brentford, Southampton and Leicester City thought to be interested in signing the 18-year-old.

Serie A side Atalanta and Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig are among the teams believed to be keeping tabs on Morton, who spent last season on loan at Hull City in the Championship.

It remains to be seen whether Koumas and Blair will stay at the club or go out on loan.

 

Ben Doak in pre-season action for Liverpool. Image: Getty
Ben Doak in pre-season action for Liverpool. Image: Getty

Slot defended Liverpool’s lack of business this summer as he insists the bar is ‘really high’ for new signings.

“The bar is really high for new signings because we have so many good players, so it is not so easy to first find a player to meet those standards and then is he available? Then we have to find an agreement with them, so it is not always easy to find a player who can help us but [sporting director] Richard [Hughes] is working hard on it and let’s see what comes from this,” he explained.

“The best way to judge it is when we have all the players back and we still haven’t. But a club like Liverpool always keeps its eye open to see what’s available, players that can strengthen the squad and that is what we – Richard mostly – but me as well are looking to do but that is not particular to one position.

“We constantly evaluate the squad where can we do something and what do we have.”