Paul Gorst brings you the latest off-season Reds news in his Liverpool Notebook, which features tidbits from around Anfield.
With several of Arne Slot’s senior players scheduled to return this weekend, Liverpool’s preseason practices have gotten more intense.
Under the direction of new head coach Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes, the Reds have not added any players to their roster, although they are being linked to several players throughout the continent.
The ECHO continues to provide you with the most recent off-season information in our Liverpool FC Notebook.
Decisions made by Endo and Bajcetic described
Wataru Endo is keen to compete, but he will not be representing Japan in the summer Olympics in France.
Speaking last week, Endo stated that “nothing has been decided yet” on Japan’s desire to have the Liverpool star compete for them at the Paris Games as one of its players over 23. However, my position is that I would prefer to go if chosen.
However, the midfielder will now remain with the Reds for the preseason, reporting for duties at the AXA Training Centre this coming weekend. It was thought to be an especially significant summer because Endo is keen to get off to a good start under Slot and the team has a new look management.
With Ryan Gravenberch representing Holland at the Euros, Dominik Szoboszlai taking a break following his team’s group-stage elimination against Hungary, and Argentine international Alexis Mac Allister playing at the Copa America, Endo will be the only 2023 summer signing reporting for duty this weekend. All eyes will be on him to catch the attention of the new head coach.
Stefan Bajcetic, who is not a member of the Spain team, is similarly affected. The former young player for Celta Vigo participated in just three games last season due to a rough 12 months due to injury.
Due to recent injury issues, the teenager has only played 97 minutes since March 2023, and Liverpool is being careful. Therefore, it was decided that keeping Bajcetic under the supervision of Liverpool personnel would be better for him in the long run than sending him to a competition for which they are not required to release their players.
In recent weeks, Bajcetic has been following his own specially designed training program in an attempt to get back to pre-season training in top shape before what is anticipated to be a lot better campaign for the young player.
A new appointment has been made.
Phil Holliday has been hired as the new head of first-team operations behind the scenes at Liverpool.
Early this year, it was announced that Ray Haughan would be leaving his role as manager after 16 years in charge. At Jurgen Klopp’s request, the long-time staff member received a private send-off on the Anfield field following the Premier League season’s final game against Wolves on May 19.
Mr. Haughan was responsible for overseeing the seamless operation of Liverpool’s logistics department, which included planning travel for both home and away games. The departing director was also a noticeable presence behind the scenes on Reds game days.
In 2020, because to COVID-19 issues, Mr. Haughan was credited with assisting the club arrange an eleventh-hour change of pre-season venue, forcing Liverpool to find a new location for their summer work.
The government’s decision to add France to the quarantine list at the time necessitated a last-minute change in plan, and Mr. Haughan was commended for how the switch was carried out. In August 2020, the Reds took a private plane to Austria.
Holliday, whose official title is “director of first-team operations and travel,” will now fill his position. It seems improbable that a training camp for the summer will be scheduled prior to the tour of the United States later this month.
Fowler’s gaze reappears
Robbie Fowler, a legend of Liverpool, expressed to the ECHO how eager he is to get back into management.
Despite having an undefeated start to the season, the former Reds striker has been unemployed since his unexpected dismissal from Saudi Arabian team Al-Qadsiah in October of last year.
Fowler has now disclosed that he wants to rejoin the game as a manager, and he has been distributing his resume around in an attempt to do so.
“I am sincerely trying to get back in and I am just waiting on the right opportunity,” he said to the ECHO.
“I’ve sent my resume to a few clubs here in England, but I haven’t been given a look-in. I’m not really sure why they are the way they are, and it’s not really my place to speculate or offer explanations.
“But because I’ve performed well at every club I’ve been to, I am very, really convinced that I will succeed when I get the chance. Various degrees of success at the university, but when I was there in Saudi Arabia, I never dropped a match.
“I am all for fostering an atmosphere in which players can grow, develop, and prosper, and I am sure that whichever club decides to acquire me will be in good hands because I know I can perform well. I’m not sure where that will be, but I suspect it will be abroad once more because I don’t think anyone here gives me any time of day.”
