Liverpool manager Arne Slot has broken his silence on the club’s failed pursuit of Martin Zubimendi.
The Merseyside club are currently the only team in Europe’s top seven leagues to not make a signing this summer after seeing a deal for Zubimendi collapse at the final hour.
Liverpool were prepared to pay the Spain star’s £51m release clause at Real Sociedad and reports suggest the player had given his word to sporting director Richard Hughes that he was interested in a switch to Anfield.
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However, after a charm offensive by his current club, Zubimendi had a last minute change of heart and opted to stay put at his boyhood club leaving Liverpool fans furious in the process.
Various reports have suggested the failed bid for Zubimendi has ended Liverpool’s transfer business this summer, much to the dismay of their fans, and Slot spoke about the deal during his first press conference ahead of the new Premier League season.
“I said many times already that I think our squad is really strong and it's not so easy to find players that can help us or can strengthen the squad.
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"Zubimendi was one of them to be fair but he decided not to come.
"We go forward with the players we have and they have done really well in pre-season so we're in a good place.
"Like I said many times before, in the background, Richard is trying to strengthen the squad but unfortunately Zubimendi decided not to come. He made every effort, he tried everything to bring him in but if the player doesn't want to come, it's obvious that he's not coming."
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The lack of signings has left Liverpool supporters understandably concerned heading into their first season since 2016 without Jurgen Klopp as their manager.
With their rivals already adding to their ranks and just a few weeks left in the transfer window, fans are begin to fear that their squad is not up to scratch.
Speaking in his presser, Slot rejected the assertion that Liverpool would become weaker without new signings.
He said: “That argument I don't understand. If you don't strengthen you become weaker? We stay the same. I truly believe you can help on the training ground and improve. It has helped players to improve here.
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“If others clubs strengthen they become better but it's not always true new players make you stronger. Every player in the team needs perspective on playing time. If you keep bringing in players the energy goes down.
“Me and Richard are trying to strengthen the squad, if we think we have found someone, we try to bring him. Unfortunately, the one we found (Zubimendi) said no. In the background, Richard is still trying to improve the team but my main focus is on Ipswich.”
Marcus Banks