Arne Slot tipped to make 'four or five' signings with 'desperate' need for $70M Arsenal ace

EXCLUSIVE: Former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam on the future of Reds boss Arne Slot and why a player who ended up at Arsenal could have made a big difference

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot during the Champions League game against PSG.(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi via Getty Images)

After a summer of change and a season of inconsistency, it does appear that Liverpool will make the Champions League places this season, achieving its minimum aim.

With five games remaining, the Reds need a maximum of three wins, though in all likelihood, less will be enough given that the teams below — Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford and Chelsea — are unlikely to win every remaining fixture.

From there, assuming that Liverpool doesn't succumb to a late collapse, the task heading into the summer will be to ensure that this season was a one-off. Next year, with a few additions, the plan is to get back into title contention.

Arne Slot, who has been under pressure for much of the campaign, has split opinion among the Liverpool fanbase. But former Reds man Charlie Adam still believes that he is the right man for the job.

"You have to remember he is the reigning champion of England," Adam tells Liverpool.com. "He's come into a group off the back of a very successful manager leaving the football club.

"There's a lot of surroundings going on in terms of the football club this season. They spent a lot of money in terms of new players, embedding them.

"Alexander Isak, big signing, but he never had a pre-season, and has been chasing fitness for a lot of the season. Hugo Ekitike for me has probably been the standout from the new signings this year in terms of what he's done, and obviously, sadly, now he's out for a longer term.

"Florian Wirtz is a young player who's come from Germany into the Premier League. It's a totally different ball game, and it takes time to settle.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Their performances at times have shown moments where they're capable of being very, very good. But you've got to remember, this Liverpool team are now sat several points clear in the Champions League spots.

"If they can make the Champions League, of course, you're judged on winning trophies. You have to win trophies at Liverpool, we know that.

"But if they make the Champions League and they come through this season and they're there next year, then ultimately, why would he not still be manager?"

There will be changes to the Liverpool roster in the summer, though not as many as a year ago. And Adam, speaking on behalf of OLBG, says one of those should be the addition of a holding midfielder.

"I do think they've all had good periods within (this season)," the former Scotland international insisted. "But for me, Liverpool were desperate to get a number six and they looked at Martin Zubimendi at Real Sociedad (in 2024). He went to Arsenal (in 2025, for a fee of around $70 million/$51 million).

"They ended up putting Ryan Gravenberch in there. He's done some good bits but I like him higher up. I think he's fabulous at driving with the ball. He's got good athleticism, but at the moment, they couldn't find that sort of number six that they've needed.

"Alexis Mac Allister was very good last year and he's had a tough season, which can happen. Dominik Szoboszlai has been the catalyst in the middle of the pitch and he's performed really well, but at times he's had to play right back and there's no real continuity for him.

"As a group, Liverpool have underperformed to what they feel they'll be capable of coming off the back of winning the title. But within that, individuals have not hit the heights that they know they probably could have.

"Now it looks like they're going to have to get another number nine with Ekitike going to be out long-term too.

"They need a new right winger to replace Salah. They're going to need a full back to replace Robertson. There's four or five positions possibly needing filled here.

"It'll be really interesting to see what (sporting director) Richard Hughes and the recruitment team and the manager decide to do in the summer."