Liverpool attempted to sign Lutsharel Hertruida from Sunderland before the transfer deadline, but well-known Feyenoord defender Arne Slott was not available.
Liverpool attempted to sign Lutcharel Geertruida in the winter transfer window (Image: Neal Simpson/Getty Images)
Arne Slott has admitted that Liverpool missed out on signing Lutcharel Geertruida from Sunderland on the final day of the January transfer window as the Dutchman was looking for defensive reinforcements.
The champions have hit their defensive limits this season after summer signing Giovanni Leoni suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury in September. Slott then lost Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Jeremy Frimpong to injury in January, prompting Liverpool to move to sign Geatoruida, who had captained Feyenoord during Slott’s time in charge.
The deal to bring the 25-year-old to Anfield, on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig, was so complicated that Liverpool instead pushed through a £60m deal to sign Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet this summer.
Jaquet, who is also being courted by Chelsea, will strengthen Liverpool next season, but Slott admitted he was looking for an addition at this time.
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“I think I said we’ve been trying to strengthen our team, so that probably speaks to (how I wanted players) and I don’t think I was the only one who wanted that,” Slott said Thursday. “But it’s always about availability and the right players.
“We are talking about what is good for the club in the short and long term, for example Jeremy Jacquet was unavailable in the winter but was available in the summer.
“We took the decision to sign him because we think he’s a very good signing for the future of this club. I’m very happy with the team, let me make that clear. But it’s clear and obvious that we have three long-term injured players (Bradley, Leoni and Alexander Isak).”
“That’s why we tried to strengthen the team during the winter break, and in the end the player you mentioned (Gertruida) was not available. But we tried to strengthen the team, that’s clear.”
Arne Slott knows Geatoruida well from his time at Feyenoord (Image: ANP via Getty Images)
“And I think that’s helped us. But there’s also the possibility that we won’t sign players who aren’t good enough to play for this club.”
Slott, who was close to welcoming new blood with a third of the season remaining, said he had no qualms about the fact that Liverpool were unable to make a deal before the deadline, adding that he understood the constraints he was working within at Anfield. “I’ve always worked the same way,” he continued. “I always want to give the best to the club and of course sometimes there is interest from individuals, such as players or managers.
“But I always want what’s best for the club, even if it’s not ideal for me in the short term. I’m not saying that’s the case, but if that means I’ll always choose the best contract for the club. I knew which club I was joining. This club has a model of signing talented young players.”
“I’ve always liked working that way. I’m not just a manager but also a head coach. I like it better this way because the amount of work you have to do as a head coach is so much. People wonder how they were able to do those two jobs.”
“I don’t have time to watch 10 live games with new players, and even if I did, I wouldn’t have the time to do my job as a head coach like I do now.”
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