Arne Slot allowed himself a few bottles of beer to celebrate Liverpool winning the Premier League last Sunday – but had to restrain from an old-fashioned knees-up as he needed to be in tip-top shape Monday morning.
The reason? It was his wife Mirjam’s birthday. He could not be hungover for that as he was taking her and the kids, Joep and Isa, out for lunch before they all headed back to their home in Zwolle.
Slot Jrs were back to school on Tuesday and, in many ways, the Liverpool manager was also back to business. Officially it was another day off but he took a trip to Anfield to pick up his car with his right-hand man Sipke Hulshoff and took a picture of the new-look ‘20’ sign in the tunnel.
He was also on the phone. Talking to famous faces like Jurgen Klopp and old pals back in Holland – Slot is now one of the very elite coaches in world football but is a humble chap who never forgets his roots and replied to every congratulatory message he received this week.
But aside from reading the nice texts, Slot was already plotting how to ensure this title is not just a one-off but the springboard to create a dynasty at home and on the continent. Here is what he and sporting director Richard Hughes are planning.
The first thing to say is that life is not worth living if you do not celebrate the highs – so Slot and Co are rich in the understanding that enjoying this trophy triumph holds more importance than getting on the phone to potential transfer targets.
Arne Slot has guided Liverpool to the Premier League title in his first season at the club
The Reds sealed the title with a comfortable home victory over Tottenham last Sunday
Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes, left, are working on strengthening the squad
But this in itself is perceived as a draw for new signings. Winning the Premier League and all the celebrations are seen as a reason why Liverpool are an attractive club. Come play for us and you can be part of this next year.
Slot said on Friday how this title gives him ‘the why’ to sell to both current and prospective new players, saying: ‘It helps to attract new players as the ones we want, we are not the only club who think they are good. This helps them to see that the way we do things over here is special.’
At the last count, Liverpool have been linked with more than 30 players for this summer by reports at home and on the continent. They have a fair budget this summer but it is certainly not that big!
Mail Sport understands, though, that at least one forward and a new left back are the priorities. Aside from that, they could target a central defender and right back if Trent Alexander-Arnold joins Real Madrid as is expected.
Liverpool never settle and always want to improve, which has been a theme for decades. In a column in these pages earlier this season, Graeme Souness recalled: ‘Nothing has changed at Liverpool.
‘When I returned there as manager, I had a conversation with Tom Saunders, who had been right-hand man to Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish.
‘Tom relayed a story that Bob, on a regular basis, would say, “I’m not happy with him, then… I think we can do better in that position, then… I think he’s tailing off…” And these were comments about a team that was winning a league title or European Cup every year.
‘So they were never completely happy with the group they had and that was a large part of Liverpool’s success over the decades.’
Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has already agreed to join Liverpool this summer
Ajax’s Jorrel Hato is being discussed as left back option with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez
Bournemouth duo Dean Huijsen and Antoine Semenyo are players of interest to Liverpool
The Reds have already started succession planning for Alisson, for example, despite the fact the Brazilian has a clause in his deal that can trigger a contract extension until 2027. Georgia No 1 Giorgi Mamardashvili, 24, will sign from Valencia for £25m plus £4m this summer.
Left back is another position they are actively looking to upgrade, with 31-year-old Andy Robertson entering the final year of his deal. Milos Kerkez of Bournemouth is being courted but would command a hefty fee of £45m, while Ajax’s Jorrel Hato has also been discussed.
The Cherries have two other players of interest for Liverpool in defender Dean Huijsen, who has a £50m release clause, and Antoine Semenyo. Huijsen will move on this summer with Chelsea also keen and Reds defender Ibrahima Konate is also out of contract next year.
The Reds’ scouting department are scouring the market far and wide with observers present at RB Leipzig on Saturday – Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko could be on the agenda – plus it is understood they have watched players at Real Betis and River Plate in Argentina recently.
A forward is firmly on the agenda with Darwin Nunez likely to leave this summer. Luis Diaz is also maneuvering for a new deal so, with him and others, Liverpool must balance keeping a ceiling on their wage structure and also planning for the future.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike has been watched – he has scored 22 goals and made 10 assists this season and thus, like other targets, would not be cheap.
Reports have linked them with all and sundry in recent weeks, like Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, but they – like many names that the rumour mill chugs out – are not on the shortlist at this stage.
RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike are forwards being watched
Liverpool’s interest in a forward comes with Darwin Nunez expected to leave the club
But going into the summer, one point should be remembered: Liverpool transfer guru Hughes is a smooth operator that deserves mass credit alongside Slot for the first year of the new regime at Anfield.
He inherited a situation with his best three players out of contract and has extended two of those – Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk – despite the long-running saga in both of those cases.
More importantly than that was the fact he chose Slot as his No 1 candidate and oversaw the smooth process in replacing Jurgen Klopp.
Any talk of a ‘transfer war chest’ is slightly over-egging the situation but Liverpool have the money and they will spend it. Title No 20 is wrapped up and they will celebrate that but, in the corridors of power at Anfield, they are already planning for a happy 21st next year.
