REINFORCEMENT SQUAD : HOW ARNE SLOT COULD LINE UP WITH GYOKERES AND FIVE NEW SIGNINGS

Liverpool have yet to make their first signing of the Arne Slot era at Anfield but expect to complete a transfer as they eye a forward before the window closes this summer

Fresh from a narrow 1-0 win over Real Betis, Liverpool now have a break until their next pre-season outing against Arsenal on Wednesday evening in Philadelphia.

Arne Slot will hope to spend some productive time on the training pitch amidst his side’s travels but perhaps a moment of pause will offer greater opportunities for the Reds to finally land their first signing of the summer. The Liverpool was forced to attempt a new tactic against Betis with no strikers at his disposal at this stage.

“During the season you will see us play with a real striker, but at this moment we have no one available,” Slot explained following the win. Of course, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo still need to return after their internatinal exploits this summer but that has not stopped a number of forwards being linked to transfers to Anfield.

Slot himself has said ‘it would be a surprise for all of us’ if the Merseyside club do not make a signing this summer. With that said, Mirror Football takes a look at some of the bigger transfer stories currently surrounding the club.

Liverpool defender reconsiders future

Sepp van den Berg has admitted he could yet stay at Liverpool after admitting last month that he wanted to leave Anfield. The 22-year-old defender has spent time on loan at Preston North End, Schalke and Mainz since joining the Reds in 2019 but has enjoyed his time working under Slot in pre-season thus far.

Van den Berg has stiff competition up against the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah for a place in the team, but is content with his playing time in Liverpool’s friendlies. He told Sky Sports: “I’m still a Liverpool player. I enjoy it here, really,”

“It’s been a very nice pre-season. Of course, new coach, like new era starts, fresh training, new style of play. I really like it.

“For me, it’s just about game time and, at the moment, I’m getting it here, so I’m happy at the moment. But like I said, it’s still early. You never know what can happen, but for me the most important thing is playing.

“If I can do it here, there’s no better place. It’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest, clubs in the world, so if it’s here, it’s my dream. But for me, the most important thing is playing, so I will see what happens.”

Liverpool challenge Arsenal

Liverpool are set to provide Arsenal competition in the race to sign Viktor Gyokeres this summer according to reports. The Sporting CP forward, who arrived in Portugal from Coventry 12 months ago, scored 43 goals in 49 games last term and is said to have a £86million release clause in his contract.

The Reds and Tottenham have both registered their interest in the Swedish sharpshooter, with Arsenal said to be unwilling to meet the fee. It is unlikely Liverpool would want to hit the figure either however.

Sporting director flies out

Galatasaray’s president, Dursun Ozbek, and sporting director Cenk Ergun are jetting out to meet with Liverpool over a deal for Ryan Gravenberch. Turkish outlet Yeni Safak report that Okan Buruk’s side are keen to come to an agreement over the midfielder.