Arne Slot confirms Liverpool tried to sign another player before deadline and Jeremy Jacquet deal

Liverpool completed the signing of Jeremy Jacquet on deadline day, with the defender set to arrive in the summer, but the Reds also tried to bring in another player

Arne Slot has confirmed Liverpool tried to make another signing on deadline day(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot has revealed Liverpool was unable to secure Lutsharel Geertruida before Monday evening's January transfer deadline, acknowledging he had hoped to strengthen his squad.

However, the Reds boss maintains he holds no frustration over the club's inability to reinforce his ranks as he now focuses on securing Champions League qualification without the additions he desired.

Following January injuries to Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong, which further depleted a defensive unit already without Giovanni Leoni, who sustained a season-ending ACL injury in September, the Premier League champions attempted to bring in cover through Geertruida, who served as Slot's captain at Feyenoord.

Nevertheless, a deal for the Netherlands international, currently on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig, proved too complex to complete that late in the window and by Sunday evening, Liverpool had acknowledged defeat and abandoned its pursuit of the versatile Geertruida.

The Reds ultimately reached a £60 million ($82M) agreement with Rennes to sign 20-year-old Jeremy Jacquet on Monday, beating off strong interest from Chelsea in the process, and whilst Slot is thrilled to acquire the young Frenchman, who will join his new teammates from July 1, he also admitted he wanted reinforcements for the remainder of a campaign that sees them head into the weekend's clash with Manchester City in sixth place, reports the Liverpool Echo.

"I think I've said that we've tried to strengthen the squad, so that probably tells you [I wanted players] and I don't think I was the only one who wanted that," Slot said. "But it's always about availability and the right player.

Liverpool attempted to sign Lutsharel Geertruida before abandoning its attempts(Image: Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)

"We do have discussions about what is good for the short and for the long term of the club and now, for example, Jeremy Jacquet wasn't available for the winter, but he was for the summer.

"We've made a decision to sign him because we think he's a really good signing for the future of this club. I'm very happy with the squad. Let that be clear. But it's all clear and obvious, that we have three long-term injuries (Bradley, Leoni, Alexander Isak).

"That's why we've tried to strengthen the squad in winter break and the player you mentioned (Geertruida), in the end, wasn't available. But we've tried to strengthen the squad - that is clear.

"And that tells you that we think that it would have helped us. But it should be possible that we're not gonna sign players that are not good enough to play for this club."

Despite wanting more options to work with between now and May, however, Slot says he understands the constraints he works under at Anfield, adding: "I have always worked the same.

"I always want the best for the club. Of course sometimes there is interest from an individual, could be a player or manager.

Jeremy Jacquet will join Liverpool in the summer after signing on deadline day(Image: Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

"But I always want the best for the club even if in the short term it is not ideal for me. I am not saying it is but if it means this, I would always go for the signing that is best for the club. I knew which club I went into, this club has a model of signing talented players younger.

"I have always liked to work in that way. I am also the head coach and not the manager, I prefer this because the amount of work you have to do as a head coach is so much, I wonder how people could have done those two jobs.

"I don’t have time to watch 10 live games of a new player coming in and if I do, I cannot have time to do my job as a head coach as I am doing now."