Liverpool are now eyeing a move to sign a defensive reinforcement, who's "waiting" for a move to Anfield.
Slot hits back: "I am not going to change"
There have been many battles for Liverpool on the pitch this season, with most of those resulting in scarring defeats, but Arne Slot has been building his own trenches in front of the media as of late. The Dutchman has been as honest as ever and has found himself inadvertently stealing the headlines as a result.
At a time when he's struggling to manage the results, failing to manage the media could prove to be fatal for his Anfield career. Alas, Slot hit back at the headlines after last night's 6-0 thumping of Qarabag to advance to the last 16 of the Champions League - stating that he is "not going to change" anytime soon.
Arne-Slot-1
His fury arrives in the same week that headlines surrounded his claim that Liverpool might have been helped on their way to last season's Premier League title by their early Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Liverpool boss has since clarified those comments, telling reporters: “Can I come back to something I said yesterday... I used the word ‘might'.
"Might, might, but not everyone is listening to [that word]; losing to PSG might have helped us. I meant we did not face injuries after that.
"People want to make my world more ridiculous. This club has been hit harder with injuries."
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He then went onto say: "I have always tried to be myself and give long answers in a different language. I am not going to change, not going to only say yes or no, this is who I am."
The Dutchman, like the rest of those at Anfield, will now be hoping to set their focus on the rest of the season and the summer transfer window, when they could finally solve Liverpool's centre-back problem.
Upamecano now "waiting" for Liverpool move
As reported by Sky Sports' Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are now interested in signing Dayot Upamecano, who is "waiting" for an Anfield move and "stalling" contract talks with Bayern Munich just six months before his current deal comes to an end.
"Bayern is waiting for weeks, they want a decision soon. But my opinion is he's waiting for Liverpool, for Real Madrid. Liverpool is interested in Upamecano, we can confirm that."
The move would certainly make sense for all parties. Liverpool would have an instant replacement for Ibrahima Konate, who is on course to become a free agent himself in the summer, and one of Europe's leading centre-backs without spending a penny.
The Frenchman would be one of at least two central defenders that the Reds need to sign in the summer, given the injury history of Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk's likely exit when his deal expires in 2027.
If their defensive crisis didn't seem urgent enough, then the fact that Ryan Gravenberch had to step into the back four against Qarabag due to Konate and Gomez's absences should slam home just how desperate Liverpool are for reinforcements.