Arne Slott says Liverpool need to sell before they buy this summer as pressure mounts after Champions League exit | Soccer News

Arne Slott says Liverpool need to raise money through a sale before signing a new contract this summer.

Liverpool spent a record £446.5m last summer, but with Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson set to leave on free transfers and fears that Hugo Ekitike was seriously injured, the need to continue the rebuild after a difficult season was shown.

The club covered last summer’s expenses by selling a series of players, including Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Jarrell Quansah, Caoich Kelleher, Ben Gannon-Doak and Tyler Morton.

And with many of last summer’s new signings, including Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, struggling for form and fitness, Slott says more players will need to be sold to fund new reinforcements.

“Just like we lost Trent on a free transfer, we will lose Mo and Andy Robertson on a free transfer. The model of this club means that normally you have to sell to buy,” he told Amazon Prime after his Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain.

“This is a big challenge. It was already last season and it will be a challenge again in the summer. But this club has also shown time and again that this model works and that we can achieve great success.

“We have signed some very good and talented players. Let’s hope they are all healthy and most of them will be in their second season in the Premier League.”

“As I’ve said many times, if we can add a few good players, especially after the departure of some good players this summer, the future will be very good.”

Ibrahima Konate is another player whose future at the club is uncertain, with the defender previously unable to agree a contract extension, putting pressure on Liverpool to sell him this summer before his contract expires next year.

Do slots still exist?

Slott’s comments came amid uncertainty surrounding his own future.

The Dutchman, who helped Liverpool win the Premier League last season, has one year left on his contract, but Jamie Carragher says his reign could end if he fails to win the Champions League.

Liverpool currently occupy one of the Champions League spots in fifth place, four points behind Chelsea, but have won just one of their last four Premier League games and will face Everton in Sunday’s Merseyside derby, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Sunday, April 19th 1:00 p.m.

Kickoff at 2pm

Carragher said on Monday Night Football in February: “If we won the league last season and spent as much money as Liverpool, but we don’t qualify for the Champions League, I don’t think we have any legs to stand on.”

“What really worries me about Liverpool in terms of Champions League qualification is the three big things that stand out in the current Premier League: set-pieces, counter-attacking football and playing against low blocks.

“Liverpool can’t deal with any of them. What we’re looking at is a Premier League team that’s not fit for the Premier League.”

The same issue has resurfaced since Carragher’s comments, with Liverpool drawing with Spurs before defeating Fulham on Saturday but losing to Wolves and Brighton in either side.

“When you start to fear qualification for the Champions League next season, that’s when you think you have a completely different offer when you’re talking about the manager’s job,” Carragher added. “That’s totally different for me.

“If you’re talking about not winning the league, not being able to challenge for the league, it’s collective responsibility and Liverpool can’t win the league every year.

“Going from being champions to not being in the Champions League, spending £450m and having the highest wage bill in the Premier League, which is usually the biggest factor in determining where you sit in the league, I think you have serious doubts.”

Watch Everton v Liverpool live on Sunday on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. Kickoff at 2pm