Liverpool are usually not silly, says Slot, we all know there might be life with out Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk turns 35 in July and Liverpool have already began planning for his exit
Arne Slot is thrilled with the signing of Jeremy Jacquet and accepts Liverpool will quickly have to just accept there might be “life with out” Virgil van Dijk.
Jacquet’s transfer from Rennes for a payment within the area of £60m was accomplished on switch deadline day though the 20-year-old will spend the remainder of the season with the Ligue 1 membership earlier than becoming a member of Liverpool in the summertime.
The dimensions of the payment has attracted consideration – former France World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry labelled Liverpool “suckers” for parting with that a lot cash – however Slot says it’s wise recruitment given Van Dijk turns 35 in July.
“All the pieces that’s performed right here isn’t in panic, it’s all the time a long-term concept or one thing that has been considered for a very long time,” he mentioned.
“In fact, we’re conscious of the truth that Virgil is not going to play for this membership for 10 extra years however he has a one-and-a-half yr contract left so he might be with us for that time period and possibly even longer if he retains staying match as he’s now. As I’ve mentioned earlier than, what a praise to him at his age to play each three days, not just for his membership but additionally for his nation.
“Hopefully he can keep as match as he’s for a number of years however this membership, we’re not silly, we all know someplace within the upcoming years there may be life with out Virgil. I can say for each place that this membership isn’t solely fascinated with short-term however the mid- and long-term future within the selections we make.”
Liverpool boss Slot ‘very happy’ with Jacquet signing
Jacquet is a France Underneath-21 worldwide and might be parachuted straight into the primary workforce on his arrival with Van Dijk’s common associate Ibrahima Konate’s contract as a result of expire on the finish of the season.
Slot mentioned of Jacquet’s arrival: “Very pleasing in fact. He’s a really large expertise and possibly much more than expertise however we discuss expertise due to his age. Second, as a result of we weren’t the one one taken with him so it’s a giant praise to the individuals working actually laborious to signal gamers.
“It’s one other instance of the mannequin we’re utilizing at this membership – younger, very gifted gamers typically at first of their careers or typically already a couple of years into their profession however all the time gamers which might be younger and might enhance us within the brief time period but additionally positively in the long run.
“We’ve signed numerous them not too long ago and like I’ve mentioned many instances within the mid/long-term way forward for this membership, and even the brief time period, it’s in an excellent place.”
Would have been unusual to let Curtis Jones depart Liverpool – Slot
Curtis Jones is more likely to begin the sport on the bench as soon as once more after approaching as a late substitute in final weekend’s 4-1 win over Newcastle.
The England midfielder is one other participant whose contract is working down, though he does nonetheless have 17 months left.
Jones was linked with a January swap to Inter Milan however remained at Anfield.
Slot mentioned: “He’s performed numerous minutes, not all of them, however he’s additionally unfortunate within the sense that it’s the one line the place we haven’t had accidents, however he’s nonetheless performed numerous minutes and that’s in fact why we stored him.
“Now we have numerous gamers in that line however we want these midfielders in several positions as effectively and the second you want that, the road in midfield will get smaller and smaller. The scenario hasn’t modified. To us, he is without doubt one of the 16 gamers we now have accessible for the long-term and in addition on this second in time. Could be a bit unusual if we let anybody go if we solely have 16 of them.”
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