Rafael Benítez sends warning to Arne Slot as Liverpool receive early transfer interest

The Arne Slot era at Liverpool will soon be underway. After the club’s new head coach was confirmed on Monday, the former Feyenoord boss will officially start his new role on June 1, although he has already been given a warning by one of his predecessors.

Slot will have plenty of work to do as he and new sporting director Richard Hughes get to work over the summer. Already, the Reds are starting to receive interest in their players, with a potential Championship loan being touted for a youngster. Here’s a rundown of the latest Liverpool news.

Rafael Benítez sends transfer warning to Arne Slot

Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has warned Arne Slot that he will need to make the first signings at Liverpool if he is to become a success.

Virgil van Dijk and Jürgen Klopp agree on Arne Slot’s situation at Liverpool
Jürgen Klopp is clear and Chelsea fans want the former Liverpool boss to replace Mauricio Pochettino

Slot will officially take over from Jürgen Klopp on June 1, after her appointment was confirmed by the club on Monday. The Dutchman was warned by one of his predecessors ahead of his first summer in charge at Anfield.

“If you’re asking my opinion about what lies ahead for Arne Slot, it’s important to remember the context because you have to compare Liverpool now with when I joined in 2004,” Benítez wrote in a column for The Telegraph.

“Following Jürgen Klopp is not easy, but the most important question for any manager entering a new club is always: ‘How good are the players?’ and “Can they fit how we want to play?”

“If you already have a good team, you can win immediately. There may not be much going on in the transfer market. But if you’re taking over a team that’s nearing the end of a cycle, or where the big players are leaving, the challenge is different. 30-year-old players won’t perform as well as 28-year-olds. They are already in decline.

“The first two or three signings for a new manager are always massive. You have to get them straight away. When I joined Liverpool, there was a lot of work to do. Chelsea were very strong and spending a lot of money. Manchester United were already there, always competing for title”.

Hull City are interested in James McConnell on loan

Liverpool are already receiving transfer interest for one of their players ahead of the summer. According to the Hull Daily Mail, Hull City are eyeing James McConnell for a potential loan move next season.

McConnell has played nine times for the Reds’ senior side this season, including a substitute appearance in the Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea earlier this year. He could be one of the younger stars earmarked for a loan move next season as Liverpool look to give more opportunities to some of their developing players.

Hull already have a proven track record with Reds players. Both Tyler Morton and Fábio Carvalho have impressed while on loan with the Yorkshire outfit this season, with the former making 41 appearances, while the latter made 20 appearances, scoring nine goals in the process after joined in January.

However, the Tigers are looking for a new manager after Liam Rosenior was sacked after failing to reach the Championship play-offs, which could factor into any decision Liverpool make on sending players back to the stadium MKM.