Arne Slot on Alexander Isak’s Integration
Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool, has shared that the club will take a cautious approach with new signing Alexander Isak as he integrates into the team. Isak, who missed the preseason preparations, joined Liverpool from Newcastle for a record British transfer fee of £125 million ($164 million), concluding a protracted transfer saga. Despite this significant investment, Slot emphasized that expectations should be tempered regarding Isak’s immediate involvement due to his lack of summer training, which has lasted for several months.
“We will not have him on the pitch for 90 minutes every game in the early weeks,” Slot remarked, underlining the importance of gradually building Isak’s fitness given the demanding schedule ahead.
Disappointment Over Marc Guéhi’s Transfer
Meanwhile, Slot expressed disappointment over Marc Guéhi‘s unsuccessful transfer from Crystal Palace, labeling the situation a “pity” for both the player and the club. A £35 million ($47.4 million) offer for Guéhi had been accepted, and the 25-year-old was granted a medical examination; however, Crystal Palace ultimately withdrew from the deal.
“It would be foolish for me to pretend we weren’t close to signing Guéhi,” Slot stated candidly. “We were interested in him because we believed he could enhance our squad. It’s unfortunate for us and for him that this move didn’t materialize.”
Future Prospects
Slot remained hopeful about potential future opportunities in the transfer market, indicating that Liverpool could revisit the possibility of acquiring Guéhi either during the January window or the following summer. Despite the setbacks, he recognized that Guéhi was currently in a positive environment at Crystal Palace, where he achieved significant success, including winning the Champions League and the FA Cup.
“He has a good setup with a talented manager, so we’ll have to see how his future unfolds,” Slot added.
