A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Anfield chiefs set their stance on triggering Dani Olmo’s £50m release clause and Arne Slot adds a ‘unique’ figure to his new staff.
What Mohamed Salah told Arne Slot about Kostas Tsimikas in their first meeting
The Arne Slot era has started with players already reporting back to the AXA Training Centre for Liverpool’s pre-season preparations. Mohamed Salah was among the latest Reds players to return on Wednesday, and instantly seemed to hit it off with his new head coach, as well.
Slot and Salah were all smiles as they got acquainted and even shared one joke about Kostas Tsimikas. The Reds shared an insight into the action behind closed doors on LFCTV which showed Slot making a beeline for Salah after spotting the Egyptian King on his first day back.
“This is your friend?” Slot asked Salah whilst gesturing towards Tsimikas sitting nearby in the cafeteria. “Kosti? I’m his psychologist, I need to keep him calm all the time,” came the reply. To which, Slot added: “He needs one!”
Read more about Salah and Slot’s first interaction at Liverpool, here.
Liverpool are unlikely to trigger Dani Olmo’s release clause before it expires
Liverpool are interested in signing Spain star Dani Olmo but are unlikely to trigger his release clause before it lapses. That is according to the Mirror, which reports that RB Leipzig are only vulnerable to the midfielder going on the cheap until July 15, a day after the Euro 2024 final.
Olmo has a £50m release clause in his contract at the Red Bull Arena and excelling in Spain’s path into the Euro 2024 final has many Premier League and La Liga sides considering deals. Some of his suitors could even activate the release clause but Chelsea and Liverpool will not.
While the Blues and Reds admire the 26-year-old, neither club plans to make a hasty swoop by the deadline. Opting against triggering his release clause before Monday would leave the two Premier League teams facing RB Leipzig’s increased asking price of £60-70m, however.
Chiefs at Stamford Bridge and Anfield admire what Olmo could offer at Chelsea or Liverpool after inspiring Spain in Germany. He has three goals and two assists, despite only starting in two of the 38-cap maestro’s five games. Olmo also had eight goals and five assists last term.
Read more about Liverpool’s stance on Olmo’s transfer from RB Leipzig, here.
Liverpool have hired a ‘unique’ new coach in Ruben Peeters
The head of sporting strategy at Feyenoord, Matt Wade, believes Liverpool have secured the services of a ‘unique’ coach in Ruben Peeters. Anfield chiefs have made the 32-year-old one of the new names in Liverpool’s coaching staff after hiring Arne Slot to replace Jurgen Klopp.
Peeters assumed the role of first-team lead physical performance coach for Liverpool as Slot sought to keep a close ally from his Feyenoord tenure. The Belgian had three years with the Dutch giants after leaving his long-time home KRC Genk, where he rose from the youth fold.
Wade firmly believes Feyenoord have now lost and Liverpool have gained a great individual in Peeters. He will help Slot determine and monitor the Reds’ training schedules and will be a leading voice at both the AXA Training Centre and at Anfield as they prepare for matches.
“Ruben is very professional in the way he conducts himself and is very strong in his areas of specialism,” Wade told The Athletic: “We used to have two heads of performance – Ruben and Leigh Egger – and they worked together really well.
“Their responsibilities were a little bit different but they made each other a lot better, which is quite unique. Arne is a world-class coach but [is] also excellent at listening to advice.”
Read more about what Wade has said about Liverpool performance coach Peeters, here.
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