Liverpool really went for it in the summer transfer window. Arne Slot’s team didn’t just dip their toes in, they actually jumped right in. The biggest splash? They brought in Hugo Ekitike, a tall French striker. He’s not exactly a name everyone knows, but Slot clearly saw something special in him. Hugo Ekitike came in with mixed but towering expectations, to complement his physical stature. Arne Slot was definitely adding a beast in the air for sure and was surely boosting his attack in a way. However, has everything gone according to plan for Arne Slot and Hugo Ekitike?
Arne Slot’s problem with Hugo Ekitike
Arne Slot probably would’ve never imagined his own signings becoming a problem for him moving forward. The last summer transfer window was simply all about Liverpool. Which is actually quite surprising. Because, over the years we’ve seen Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool gaffer, go about his business in a very stealthy way. The signings would be largely low-key. With their net spend being on the lower side on most occasions. However, looks like Arne Slot wanted to change the way things worked at Liverpool. Close to £500 million was spent in one window. That is an absurdly high spend even for a club that spends a lot. So Liverpool spending that much certainly raised eyebrows.
What raised eyebrows even further was how the transfers did not really make sense completely. Especially spending a massive amount on the same position. Alexander Isak from Newcastle United and Hugo Ekitike from Frankfurt were both brought in for a hefty fee. And both were strikers. This is where the problem sparked and continues to be kindled.
Arne Slot’s nightmare season so far
You can largely blame the summer transfer window for Liverpool’s downfall this season. This hasn’t been any form slump, a rough patch, or any difficult period. This has been a proper nightmare for the Reds, and it isn’t looking promising. The transfer window brought in some high-profile, big-name signings. They weren’t just big names, they were big in money as well, so there is that added pressure. One such big-money signing, a record signing in English football history, Florian Wirtz has absolutely struggled. The struggle has been so much that he has failed to register even a single goal/assist in the league so far. That is unacceptable for any level of player, and Wirtz, being such a high-profile signing, should really be doing better.
But keeping aside the player blaming, majority of the blame should go to the decision-makers as well. How did the people in charge make the decision to spend close to £500 million when the club has just won the league? Why would you disrupt the core group of players that won you the league in the first place? It simply doesn’t add up or make sense in any reality, as Arne Slot is severely stuck in a web of losses. The web is truly unforgiving when you are managing a club that is known for its consistent success.
Conclusion
You could come up with a strong argument that the signings must be given time. “They need to settle. The likes of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz don’t have Premier League experience”, these are all valid statements, but the question is, why so much change in the first place? Arne Slot and Liverpool could’ve built on a title-winning squad and developed brilliantly, but they chose to go all out in the transfer market and make dramatic changes. Which is consequently costing the Premier League champions this season badly. Liverpool fans would be hoping for a turnaround and a quick one.
