A Liverpool star is set for an unlikely new role following Arne Slot's most recent admission as the latest update on transfer plans is revealed.
The Reds continue to be the only Premier League side not to sign a single player this summer but new boss Slot is not fazed by the pressure being heaped on the club to bring in fresh faces ahead of the new campaign.
In fact, the Dutchman has been more than happy getting to work with the current crop of stars at hand and has been boosted further by the fact his side have won all three of their pre-season fixtures in the United States despite remaining without a number of first-team stars.
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The likes of Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold , Virgil van Dijk , Joe Gomez , Alexis Mac Allister , Darwin Nunez , Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo have all been absent this summer following their involvements at Euro 2024 and the Copa America , yet Liverpool has come away with victories against Real Betis, Arsenal and Manchester United .
The last few weeks have also enabled Slot to run the rule over a number of first-team players who weren't always first choice in their positions last season, such as midfield duo Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch . Both players have at some point been linked with a move away from Anfield this summer yet both are expected to remain.
Liverpool is, of course, on the hunt for a new defensive midfielder to fulfil the No. 6 role this season but Slot has given opportunities to both Endo and Gravenberch to stake their own claims for the spot this summer. Endo started in the role against Real Betis before Slot swapped him out for Dominik Szoboszlai against Arsenal and then Gravenberch against the Red Devils.
While this may suggest the new Liverpool boss is looking for alternatives to Endo in that position, it also shows that Gravenberch could be about to inherit a new role at Anfield this season. "I think Ryan did really well in that position today and we have other options as well,” Slot told reporters following the game.
“The best way to judge it is when we have all the players back and we still haven't but a club like Liverpool always keeps its eye open to see what's available, players that can strengthen the squad and that is what we - Richard mostly but me as well - are looking to do. But that is not particular to one position.
"We constantly evaluate the squad where can we do something and (look at) what we have."
In that defensive midfield role, Liverpool has been linked with a number of players this summer but nothing concrete has emerged. One player who it has been most frequently mentioned in the same breath as, however, is Genoa's Morten Frendrup.
Recent reports have claimed that Liverpool has submitted its first official bid for the 23-year-old having kept tabs on him since as far back as January . Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web state that Liverpool is leading the race to sign the Dane having already made an initial offer in the region of $27m (£21m/€25m) to bring him to Anfield this summer.
However, as Slot alludes too, there is no real rush to bring in extra reinforcements, especially in the midfield area. Gravenberch arguably had the most underwhelming campaign of Liverpool's four midfield signings from last summer behind Szoboszlai, Mac Allister and Endo, yet under the new manager he could thrive.
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