Liverpool have now tabled a big-money offer to sign an international star, who Xabi Alonso already knows well, according to recent reports.
Slot bemoans "cruel" Bournemouth defeat
The 3-0 victory over Marseille in midweek was refreshing. Liverpool could have been out of sight at half-time, let alone by the time that the referee brought proceedings to the end. With Mohamed Salah back, the Reds finally had a creative spark. In many ways, they looked close to their best.
Yet, just a few days later, that refreshingly creative side turned familiarly blunt for the umpteenth time this season, allowing Bournemouth to seal a shock 3-2 victory. Once again it came at the death. Once again Liverpool fell behind. Once again it came courtesy of a set-piece. Arne Slot's side are stuck in a Groundhog Day full of false dawns.
Slot was once again left to face the music at full-time and bemoaned a "cruel" defeat, saying: "It is a cruel game if you lose in extra time after coming back from 2-0 down at half-time.
"I think it was only 5-10 minutes in the first half where we didn't have total control, we played through them nicely a few times but we conceded twice and we went down to 10 men so that doesn't help."
andy-robertson-liverpool Related
Liverpool now preparing to launch shock move to sign instant Robertson replacement
The Reds are already planning for life without their defender.
With five victories in his last 18 Premier League games, questions are destined to arrive about the Dutchman's future, especially now that Alonso is available.
As sources told Football FanCast,Alonso would be open to taking the Liverpool job if the opportunity became available at the end of the season.
For Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, that could go hand-in-hand with their hunt to sign a midfield star who their potential next manager already knows well.
Liverpool table £87m Tchouameni offer
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have tabled an offer to sign Aurelien Tchouameni worth as much as €100m (£87m) in what could see the Frenchman arrive in time to be greeted by Alonso at Anfield.
An international player who's also won the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu, Tchouameni needs little introduction. At 25 years old, he is at the peak of his powers and already received the praise of former Madrid manager Alonso earlier this season.
The Spaniard told reporters after defeating Borussia Dortmund in the Club World Cup in the summer: “Our system today was defined by Aurélien Tchouaméni.
aurelien-tchouameni-real-madrid
“We let him analyze what's needed and decide where he needs to be. In some sequences, he played high, and in others, he dropped low in a back 5. He did it really, really well.”
Liverpool's system could do with a similar "definition". The Premier League champions, who will be dethroned this season, are yet to find a solution for their problems and may have little choice but to spend big again in the summer - opening the door for Tchouameni.