Arne Slot insists Liverpool’s transfer model remains the same despite an “extreme” change in the Premier League, with focus on signing “young players.”
Slot admitted in his pre-Wolves press conference that he felt the majority of Premier League games were no longer a “joy to watch.”
That comes with a heavier emphasis on set-pieces and physicality, rather than the style inspired by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona era.
But while Liverpool found themselves caught out after a record-breaking spend last summer, Slot told reporters that their model of bringing in younger players, often without Premier League experience, is unchanged.
“Our model is that we sign young players,” he said, per the Liverpool Echo‘s Ian Doyle.
“It’s normal for younger players that they have to adapt usually more towards the Premier League, than if you sign players that have already played in the Premier League, that are 27 and are already in the end of their physical [development].
“But it’s exactly the reason why we have our model, because we believe that players can get better.
“This club has shown that we can achieve things, as we did six years ago and last season, with our model.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 28, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz (R) celebrates with team-mate Hugo Ekitike after scoring the second goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Qaraba? FK at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Slot and those within Liverpool’s recruitment team clearly believe that those brought in last summer – of which only Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez came from the Premier League – will be successful in the long term.
However the head coach admitted they did not predict the change of style in the English top flight to be so “extreme” this season.
“A rebuild takes time, a transition takes time, and that’s what we did last summer,” Slot continued.
“But we didn’t expect the league to become like it did this season. You couldn’t know this because last season it wasn’t as extreme as it is this season.
“That is usually what happens. If a team has a success in a certain area then it is being copied. Ten to 15 years ago a lot of people wanted to play like Barcelona.
“Let’s hope the one that wins the World Cup has a great style of play, wins it by scoring open-play goal after open-play goal and doesn’t win it for a different reason.”
Liverpool have already lined up one signing ahead of the summer, with Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet joining in a deal worth £60 million – but he will arrive recovering from surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder.