Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah finally know Liverpool transfer plans as Arne Slot stance revealed

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has announced himself to the assembled media after a calm and composed press conference on Friday, July 5.

Accompanied by new sporting director, Richard Hughes, the pair fielded questions on replacing Jurgen Klopp, the upcoming season and the burning question over transfers at Anfield.

A small group of Liverpool players returned to the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby as they were put through their paces on the first day of tests. They will watch on over the weekend as the European Championships and Copa America continue their knockout stages with England, Holland, France and Colombia among the nations in action.

READ MORE: Liverpool boss and Richard Hughes on transfers and contracts

READ MORE: I was at Arne Slot's first press conference and have already noticed one major change

So, with that being said, the ECHO has rounded up the latest Liverpool news and transfer gossip.

Arne Slot discusses Liverpool transfer ambitions

The new Liverpool head coach refused to be drawn on what transfer business will be conducted at Anfield this summer, however admitted that additions would be needed in order to kick on.

"Not in specific numbers," Slot said when asked about incomings. "For me it is clear we have inherited a good team. There have been a few changes last season already and the way I look at football I can see during the Euros how important it is to work with players on a daily basis for a longer time.

"In my opinion you see many real good players not all of them have the same level at the clubs, so that proves my point how important it is to work on a daily basis with your players and get the best out of them. That is something we are going to do.

"There is already a really good team, there were a few new signings last season so the longer a team plays together if there is a good head coach normally you will see things will improve. That is fortunate I am going to a club where normally not many transfers go out.

"At Feyenoord it was almost normal eight, nine, 10 players left the club after every season so it is more difficult for a manager to get this progress. But here I am expecting him (Hughes) to keep most of our players and I think he wants that himself and from there we can only build."

Liverpool will continue to act shrewdly, you will imagine, as they are unlikely to stray away from the activity that earned them adulation during a period of free-spending from their rivals. It will be an interesting summer and the main question for many is how will the new boss cope as he looks to temper expectations after a successful response from Jurgen Klopp's side.

Liverpool chief offers squad ambitions

Hughes was also asked of his thoughts going into their first transfer window together.

"It's been great to work with Arne. It was a difficult position at first. We both had jobs to finish. Since then, we've been in conversations daily," he said.

"On many things: logistics, organisation and, of course, preparing the transfer window. That's something we'll know more about when we go on.

"We need to improve; we need to improve on the training pitch first and foremost, as Arne said. With the window open, we'll always be opportunistic if we can.

"The only concerns we have [players with one-year deals] is total commitment from the players to the cause; we are absolutely convinced that is the case."

An interesting insight into the potential dealings over the coming months. Arguably Liverpool's most important business will be tying down the players already at their disposal, Luis Diaz is facing speculation over his future following links with Barcelona while Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are into the final 12 months of their contracts.

Slot can't afford to allow speculation to be rife around the squad, which has previously been watertight, and in doing so runs the risk of losing three of their key players as free agents but also faces the possibility of losing three of his senior squad members.