Why Liverpool is selling so many young players as Arne Slot branded 'ruthless'

He may have only been in the job for just over a couple of months, but Arne Slot is developing a ruthless reputation among Liverpool fans .

As the start of the new season approaches , the Reds are still yet to make any new additions in the summer transfer window, although Slot’s squad looks as though it could get even lighter before kick-off against Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Fabio Carvalho has already departed , having secured his move to Brentford, while Bobby Clark could follow him out of the exit door as Liverpool considers another bid from Pep Lijnders’ Red Bull Salzburg .

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They aren’t the only youngsters who could be departing. Sepp van den Berg’s future remains up in the air, with the decision to leave him out of Sunday’s final friendlies against Sevilla and Las Palmas raising eyebrows.

Tyler Morton is attracting interest from across Europe, while James McConnell appears to have followed Clark’s lead by posting a cryptic hint on social media that suggests he could be on his way. Meanwhile, Ben Doak looks as though he will be allowed out on loan , with a potential permanent exit not being ruled out, while Owen Beck looks set to be on the move.

All this has led to some fans on social media branding the new head coach as being ruthless with the club’s youngsters. It certainly makes a change from the days of Jurgen Klopp being deemed to be too loyal to his players.

It has certainly come as a surprise to many to see so many of the club’s youngsters potentially leaving this summer, especially after the likes of Clark and McConnell played a big role in the club adding to their trophy cabinet last season.

With such a big change occurring during the summer though, it was always inevitable that Slot – and indeed Richard Hughes, Michael Edwards and Julian Ward – might see things differently to Klopp. What the German may have seen as being a group of players for the future, the new regime may deem to not quite meet the club’s high standards.

There’s also the advantage that some of those departing could bring if they are indeed sold this summer. Under the Premier League ’s Profit and Sustainability rules, players sold from the club’s academy count as pure profit, a loophole that Chelsea knows all about after all of their business in the last couple of years.

Not that Liverpool is in anywhere near the same danger of falling foul of any PSR breaches like some of its rivals. With a deal for Anthony Gordon potentially still to be reached this summer though, it does offer plenty of breathing space.

And for all the suggestions of Slot being ruthless, it should be remembered that he hasn’t completely closed the door on Liverpool’s youngsters. After all, Trey Nyoni looks as though he could get more chances after impressing in pre-season, while Stefan Bajcetic continues to be reintegrated after nearly a year out injured.

Is Slot more ruthless than Klopp? Perhaps, but not without reason, and it certainly doesn’t mean it’s the end of the line for Liverpool’s youngsters.