Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has addressed what 'people never talk about' the club's record-breaking summer of spending
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31: Arne Slot manager of Liverpool blows a kiss to the fans after their sides victory during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield on January 31, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
Arne Slot insists it should not be forgotten the amount of money Liverpool raised in the summer(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Arne Slot has launched an impassioned defence of Liverpool's spending - insisting he hasn't been able to properly utilise many of the players who cost a combined £450m.
And the Reds boss once more reiterated his belief that discussions about the summer transfer window lack sufficient focus on the players the club sold and the money subsequently raised.
The window saw Liverpool commit the most in fees ever - breaking their transfer record twice to land the £116m Florian Wirtz and the £125m Alexander Isak, who moved from Newcastle United on deadline day for a British-record fee.
Milos Kerkez (£40m, Bournemouth), Jeremie Frimpong (£29m Bayer Leverkusen), Giovanni Leoni (£27m, Parma) and Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29m, Valencia) were also brought to the club alongside Hugo Ekitike, who cost £79m from Eintracht Frankfurt.
To offset the ambitious period of player trading, the Reds brought in about half that amount through sales.
However, the £35m fee agreed with Aston Villa for Harvey Elliott may not yet be paid as the purchase is triggered only after the midfielder makes 10 Premier League appearances.
Slot outlined several reasons why he hasn't been able to use his summer recruits as Liverpool prepare to host West Ham United at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
The Dutchman says that Isak's leg break suffered in December at Tottenham Hotspur, successive injury issues for Frimpong, and Leoni's campaign-ending ACL issue have all contributed.
"I have tried 450 times to say we also sold for £300m, that never comes across and people never talk about it," Slot said.
"In general I only ever see, '£450m spent, 450, 450, 450'. And no-one looks at the circumstances, which are that the £450m is very well spent, very, very, very well spent, one more time: very well spent.
"They are great football players who will be a big, big, big success for this club. Some already now and some in the future. The reality of this season is we sold for £300m, some starters like Trent Alexander-Arnold sold for only £10m (to Real Madrid). We had to recoup the money with players."
Slot added: "From that spent, then £250m of it. Alex Isak has not been the Alex of Newcastle, maybe for 20 minutes at Tottenham, I don’t criticise him because we signed him for six years not six months.
"Giorgi Mamardashvili, we needed him because Caoimhin Kelleher left but we hardly played with two goalkeepers.
"Jeremie Frimpong has been many times injured, Giovanni Leoni is out for the season. Tomorrow, I miss out on Florian Wirtz. Him and Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez needed time to adapt."
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