Arne Slot has, thus far, resisted the temptation to bring familiar faces with him from Feyenoord to Premier League champions-in-waiting Liverpool.
Liverpool reportedly held talks with Crysencio Summerville and Lutsharel Geertruida last summer without making a concerted attempt for either player prior to their big-money moves to West Ham United and RB Leipzig respectively.
Orkun Kokcu’s father talked up their relationship Arne Slot, the coach who handed the now-Benfica ace the captaincy at Feyenoord. But, as things stand, Liverpool appear to favour other options for the deep-lying playmaker role.
So, while Manchester United continue to rue Erik ten Hag’s ill-fated Ajax-themed overhaul, their North West neighbours are yet to raid Feyenoord’s roster since Dirk Kuyt made the switch from Rotterdam to Merseyside nearly two decades ago.
Though with reports claiming Liverpool are stepping up their interest in Givairo Read – one of many potential Trent Alexander-Arnold successors under consideration – Slot may yet break from tradition and return to his old stomping ground.
Arne Slot is a big fan of Feyenoord’s Liverpool target Givairo Read
While Mo Salah committed his future to Liverpool last week, and Virgil van Dijk is expected to do the same, Alexander-Arnold still seems destined for Real Madrid.
Big boots to fill, then, for any right-back brought in before the start of September. Though, at the age of just 18, Givairo Read may be the sort of relatively low-profile signing who Liverpool could take their time with; Blooding him over a number of years rather than tossing him straight into a starting XI devoid of Alexander-Arnold’s presence.
Teenager Read is no academy-grade novice, however. The Amsterdam-born Netherlands Under-19 international is actually Feyenoord’s second-highest assist provider this term with seven from right-back.
Read even laid on a hat-trick of assists during a recent 6-2 obliteration of FC Twente. A trio including two delightful chipped crosses. The type of which Alexander-Arnold has long since made his trademark in the red of Liverpool.
And, having made quite the impression with Feyenoord’s academy in the first half of the 2023/24 season, Arne Slot had no qualms about handing a 17-year-old Read his senior debut in a Europa League clash with none other than Italian giants Roma.
“He’s a boy who has been training with us since the winter break,” Slot said at the time. “We took him over from FC Volendam last summer. He first spent six months with Robin van Persie in the Under-18s.
“Read also has a number of qualities that I like. Fast footwork. [He is] also not afraid to play, which is important when you have to go to De Kuip.”
According to Caught Offside, Feyenoord value Read at around £25 million.
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Read clearly is not lacking in self-confidence. The maturity which earned him Slot’s faith as a baby-faced 17-year-old in the Netherlands could yet be the decisive factor in Liverpool’s pursuit of a new right-back to kick-off the post-Trent era.
“Read has been in really good shape lately,” Dutch pundit Marciano Vink told ESPN after that Twente destruction. “Especially in front of goal, he has a good eye for his teammates.
“Wingers in particular often just miss that [end product] part, because then there is so much choice that you panic. Read always has that composure.
“Against FC Twente, he also showed that he has a mega good eye for unmarked players in front of goal.”
Robin van Persie is still settling into the top job at his beloved Feyenoord. The Manchester United and Arsenal icon was promoted from the reserves following Brian Priske’s failure to emulate the success of Slot at De Kuip.
Van Persie has wasted no time, meanwhile, in establishing Read as one of his go-two starters.
“I’ve known him for a while. He also played for me in the Under-18s at the beginning of last season,” Van Persie explains. “He has done very well.
“He has everything a full-back should have. He also has a number of points that he can improve, believe it or not! He has a very open mindset. He wants to learn every day and works extremely hard. We are very happy with that.”
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