Arne Slot issues 'easy' Virgil van Dijk statement as Liverpool star leaves Thomas Frank purring
06/21/2024 12:00 AM
A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Arne Slot issues an 'easy' claim about Virgil van Dijk and Thomas Frank waxes lyrical about a Reds player who shone at Euro 2024.
Richard Hughes knows Liverpool transfer target Riccardo Calafiori 'so well'
Liverpool are in the mix to sign Bologna ace Riccardo Calafiori after scouting the 22-year-old last season. That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who also adds that Reds sporting director Richard Hughes knows the centre-half 'so well' having followed him with AFC Bournemouth.
Hughes has left the Cherries to join Liverpool and will now work with Arne Slot on the club's transfer targets. Calafiori is one player whom the Merseyside natives admire but he is also a target for their Premier League rivals in Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Calafiori has even already offered Juventus the green light to pursue his transfer as the Italy international is open to staying in Serie A. But Hughes could give Liverpool an advantage as he watched the youngster come through AS Roma's academy while working at the Cherries.
Read more about Liverpool's interest in Calafiori's transfer from Bologna, here.
Arne Slot admits Virgil van Dijk was 'of course' the first Liverpool player he spoke to
New Liverpool boss Arne Slot has revealed that Virgil van Dijk was 'of course' the first player he spoke to upon replacing Jurgen Klopp. The 45-year-old officially took charge at Anfield at the start of June. Liverpool hired Slot as their new head coach this May after Klopp resigned.
Slot has not sought to speak with all of the players Klopp left behind in Liverpool's first-team just yet, though. Instead, he wants the Reds stars representing their nations at Euro 2024 or the Copa America to focus on the tournaments before linking up for Liverpool's pre-season.
Speaking with Van Dijk was an obvious first step as far as Slot is concerned, however, as he is Liverpool's captain. The 32-year-old took the armband last year when Jordan Henderson left. Now, Van Dijk will work under a Dutch coach domestically for the first time since 2016.
"I first called Virgil, of course, because he's the captain," he told LFCTV. "Afterwards, I called a few other ones. But mostly I didn't call them because they are with their national teams.
"It went quite easy [speaking to Van Dijk] because both of us are Dutch, so that helps. Virgil is a very nice and gentle person. We spoke a bit about Liverpool and, of course, we spoke about the Dutch national team, which is important for the two of us, as well."
Read more about what Slot said about talking to Van Dijk after joining Liverpool, here.
Thomas Frank purrs over Dominik Szoboszlai's 'fantastic' game for Hungary vs Germany
Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai left Brentford boss Thomas Frank purring with a 'fantastic' performance for Hungary against Germany. The 23-year-old was at the centre of everything his nation sought to do in their Euro 2024 tie this Wednesday but could not avoid a 2-0 loss.
Goals from Jamal Musiala (22') and Ilkay Gundogan (67') in either half guaranteed Germany a spot in the knockout stages. Hungary have no points after their first two matches, so must beat Scotland on Sunday to stand a chance of advancing among the top third-place sides.
Frank still adored the way that Szoboszlai often shut Toni Kroos down and pulled Hungary's strings, though. The Liverpool star left the match after attempting three shots and creating one goalscoring opportunity. His surging runs also left an impression on the Brentford boss.
"Fantastic first half for him," Frank said on the BBC. "Everything is going through him. His all-round game, he is intercepting a pass [and] his dynamic runs in general have been fantastic.
"Another thing I like is that it looks like Szoboszlai needs to close down Kroos when he can, which is helping Hungary. He has that quality. He is the star man, everything so far is coming from him."
Read more about what Frank has said about Liverpool's Szoboszlai for Hungary, here.
