Liverpool
Slot urges patience as Isak builds fitness ahead of Burnley trip
Slot urges patience as Alexander Isak builds fitness; early Liverpool minutes may be limited. today.
Arne Slot has asked Liverpool supporters to temper expectations for new signing Alexander Isak while the striker completes his fitness build-up.
Isak travelled with Sweden over the international break and began to build up his fitness from the bench before taking part in his first Liverpool training sessions on his return. Fans are hopeful of seeing him on Sunday when the Reds travel to face Burnley, but Slot indicated the tall forward may be limited to brief appearances at this stage of his Liverpool career.
“First of all, the Swedish manager, [Jon Dahl] Tomasson deserves a big compliment because he gets maybe the best striker in the world in and needs him for his country but understands that playing him might result in injuries, so he took care of the player and he deserves a big compliment for that,” Slot said.
“We will treat Alex the same, so don’t expect 90 minutes every week, he missed pre-season and team sessions so we have to build him up gradually. But that will be a challenge, but we have signed him for six years, so this is what the fans have to keep in mind if I bring him in.”
Slot confirmed Isak, along with the rest of his international players, returned without any fitness concerns. The Swede will continue training with his new side as Slot aims to establish a working relationship with his newest recruit.
“Maybe you don’t believe me but I haven’t spoken to him that much,” Slot confessed. “I phoned him after he signed and he had to go to Sweden but 99% of the time during breaks, I leave the players for their national managers.
“I text him once or twice but I do have to get to know him in the upcoming days and weeks. But we have such a great culture here at this club, so we sign players for his qualities and I know how good he is, what a quality player he is.”
With Isak’s involvement against Burnley likely to be limited, Slot can continue to rely on another recent arrival. Hugo Ekitiké, the £79 million arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt, has three goals and an assist from his first four games and looks set to be given the chance to add to that tally on Sunday.
Everton
August 2025: Grealish and Slot Win Premier League Monthly Awards
Grealish wins Player of the Month after four assists; Arne Slot takes Manager prize in August. Aug25
Everton winger Jack Grealish has claimed the Player of the Month prize after an electric start to life on loan with the Toffees. In his first two Premier League starts for Everton, Grealish produced four assists in total, creating a pair of strikes in a 2–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion before repeating the feat a week later in a 3–2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“First one,” a shell-shocked Grealish remarked as he was surprised by his award by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who insisted the victory was “fully deserved”. The recognition marks Grealish’s first Player of the Month award.
Both monthly honours head to Merseyside after Liverpool manager Arne Slot secured the Manager of the Month award, fending off competition from Everton’s David Moyes. Last year’s Manager of the Season, Slot continued Liverpool’s strong start to the campaign. The club remain the only unbeaten side in England’s top flight after overseeing victories over Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Arsenal, moving out into an early lead in the standings.
Slot has had to tweak his approach following a record-breaking summer transfer window. Fans are awaiting the first appearance of new striker Alexander Isak, while there has already been notable success for fellow new signing Hugo Ekitiké. Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have all been added to the reigning champions as well.
This is the second time Slot has collected the monthly prize, having first won it in November 2024. The back-to-back recognition of a loaned Everton attacker and Liverpool’s head coach underlines the competitive and fluid start to the season across Merseyside and the wider Premier League.
Crystal Palace
Slot Signals Liverpool Interest in Marc Guéhi After Deadline Day Collapse
Slot hinted Liverpool could return for Marc Guéhi after the Deadline Day move collapsed in January.
Arne Slot has acknowledged Liverpool’s interest in Crystal Palace centre back Marc Guéhi after a Deadline Day move failed to materialise. Reports since that late transfer window have suggested the club will not reopen talks in January and may prefer to try to sign the 25-year-old on a free transfer next summer.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Burnley, Slot was candid about how visible the approach had been. “I think it would be ridiculous if I will deny we were close, it was so out in the open, these things happen in football. It’s happened to our players before, it can happen.
“We would like to sign him, of course, because we were in for him. If we feel we can strengthen then we try to.
“We played Ibou [Konaté] and Virgil [van Dijk], who were outstanding, vs. Arsenal, and [Joe] Gomez as well and we signed [Giovanni] Leoni, who had a call-up [to Italy]. We have Wataru [Endo] and Ryan [Gravenberch] as well, so it’s not that we don’t have the players.
“It’s a pity for [Guéhi], but he is at a good club. Let’s see what the future brings for us.”
Asked whether a renewed approach would come in January or at the end of the season, Slot kept the focus on the immediate fixture: “I don’t tell you, but I am thinking of Burnley.”
The wider regulatory landscape was also highlighted in coverage of the saga. Guéhi is believed to have been ready to move to Liverpool, but rules governing free transfers limit English clubs from speaking with a player about a free move in January. European clubs, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, can make direct contact at the turn of the year and could agree terms with the England international before Liverpool are permitted to do so.
Liverpool
Madrid Confident Konaté Would Consider Bernabéu Amid Liverpool Contract Standoff
Real Madrid believe Ibrahima Konaté favours the Bernabéu as his contract rows with Liverpool persist
Spanish reports indicate Real Madrid believe Ibrahima Konaté would be open to joining them while his contract situation at Liverpool remains unresolved. The Athletic say the prevailing view in Madrid is that Konaté is keen on a move to the Bernabéu.
That same reporting makes clear a transfer was not “a real option” this summer. It also suggests the defender could be “playing both sides,” keeping Real Madrid a possibility and applying pressure on Liverpool to enhance their offers.
Coverage dismissed wider speculation linking Liverpool to Tottenham Hotspur centre back Micky van de Van as spurious. The possibility that Liverpool may lose patience with the hold-out remains, with MARCA reporting Konaté rejected a third approach over improved personal terms this week. Those on Merseyside seemingly consider his exit “to be a given,” though significant uncertainty persists.
Konaté’s start to the season has been affected by the off-field situation. The France international was described as lacking authority in the Community Shield and was exposed on several occasions against Bournemouth on the opening night of the Premier League campaign. He did, however, manage to successfully muzzle Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres, whose own start has not been seamless.
Should Konaté depart, Liverpool are reported to have a ready-made replacement in Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi. The Reds, like Real Madrid, are expected to wait until the summer window before moving to sign the England international as a free agent.
