Arne Slott does not expect Liverpool to look to sign experienced players this summer, despite the imminent departure of veteran pair Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson. Robertson, who celebrated his 32nd birthday in March, announced on Thursday night that he will leave Anfield at the end of the season as a free agent after nine years at the club. During his time at Anfield, he helped the Reds win major silverware under Jurgen Klopp and Slott.
Salah, 33, already revealed last month that his departure this summer was imminent. With the departure of these two players, Liverpool will lose two players who have been the cornerstone of their success over the past decade. Fenway Sports Group has long preferred a strategy of acquiring young talent with room to grow, both in terms of on-field potential and market resale value, rather than spending large amounts of money on older players.
However, there have been some notable deviations from this approach, with James Milner being 29 when he joined on a free transfer from Manchester City in 2015, Wataru Endo being 30 when he arrived three years ago and Thiago Alcantara being 29 when he was signed in September 2020.
As it stands, Endo, Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez will be the only members of the squad aged over 28 when next season starts in August. However, there are doubts about Endo, Alisson and Gomes, who could also leave in the next transfer window.
When asked whether Liverpool will target more experienced professionals this summer, Slott does not expect the Reds’ challenging campaign to prompt FSG to move away from their usual transfer philosophy.
“Our model is absolutely clear, so the club signed Wataru Endo and maybe Federico Chiesa was a little older than the age we normally sign, so it’s not like we can’t make an exception,” he said.
“If this club is as successful as we are, I don’t think we’re going to completely change our model after a not-so-great season, especially because they haven’t won the league 16 times in the 16 years we’ve been here.
“There have been more seasons where the results have not been as expected, but they have always maintained the model that I signed for, the model that Liverpool (Liverpool sporting director) Richard (Hughes) signed for, and the model that we were all united in.”
