Arne Slot to show cut-throat side in selling star Jurgen Klopp loved despite rejected bid

Arne Slot has wasted no time implementing a cut-throat environment at Anfield, as demonstrated with his first piece of major transfer business as Liverpool boss.

The Athletic reports that defender Nat Phillips will depart the club this summer, even though Liverpool rejected an opening bid from Trabzonspor.

The Turkish side tabled a £4million offer for the 27-year-old, whose contract expires next summer, with Liverpool instead valuing the Englishman at £8million.

Despite the rejection, it’s reported Phillips will leave Liverpool before the end of the transfer window, indicating Slot’s ruthless approach to transfer dealings.

While in no way a regular under former manager Jurgen Klopp, Phillips was admired by the departing German.

It’s who Klopp turned to during the ill-fated 2020/21 campaign when injuries decimated the Reds’ squad, almost leading to them missing out on a top-four finish.

In part down to Phillips’ performances – along with goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s last-gasp winner against West Bromwich Albion – Liverpool turned it around and secured Champions League football on the final day of that season.

Liverpool went on to reach the final of the competition a year later, with Klopp crediting Phillips – as well as centre-back partner Rhys Williams – after the six-time winners’ semi-final triumph.

Speaking in May 2022 following the win over Villarreal, Klopp told Sky Sports: “I messaged Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips because we wouldn’t be there without them.

“I remember the final game of last season and they left the pitch with a bandage around the head, cuts on their faces, and that was really a symbol for the whole period.

“We went through on one leg, with one eye… it was incredible. It was such a tough season.”

Instead, following Klopp’s departure, Slot has shown no signs of sentimentality in the dressing room, as he and the new-look hierarchy aim to revamp Liverpool’s squad.

The decision to sell Phillips comes after Slot sanctioned the exit of two former stalwarts of the Klopp era, with Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara both allowed to leave following the expiration of their contracts.

Further changes were confirmed earlier this month when goalkeeper Adrian – who was offered a contract extension by Slot – ended his five-year stint in Merseyside to pen a move to Real Betis.

Adrian is another player who might’ve played a subsidiary role under Klopp but turned out to be a loyal servant for the 2019/20 Premier League winner.

So far though, it appears Slot is keen to kick off the new era at Liverpool with plenty of fresh faces, as Liverpool look to move on under their first new manager in close to 10 years.