Four Liverpool players have reportedly been identified as being key to Arne Slot as he takes over from Jürgen Klopp. Darwin Núñez is said to be among those earmarked as crucial moving forward.

Slot has now been confirmed as Liverpool’s new head coach, taking over from Klopp following his final game in charge on Sunday. With the German now having said his goodbyes, his successor is clear to begin work at Anfield.

Slot will officially begin his new role at the start of next month. He will arrive following a successful spell at Feyenoord, having won the Eredivisie title last season before adding the KNVB Cup this year.

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And it seems the 45-year-old has already outlined his plans once he arrives on Merseyside. According to The Telegraph, Slot has vowed to build on Klopp’s foundations, which involves identifying young players to help the team in moving forward.

Núñez is among those said to have been identified as ‘crucial’. The 24-year-old has been criticized for his wastefulness in front of goal, and has dropped down the pecking order in the squad as a result of his recent form.

Not only that, but the striker has shown signs of being far from happy with his current situation at Anfield. Núñez deleted all of his Liverpool-related pictures from Instagram earlier this month, while he has been linked with a move to Barcelona.

Slot though appears to be keen to retain the Uruguay international’s services, and is claimed to have name-checked him as one of the players he is excited to work with.

Three more players are said to have been identified as critical to Slot’s debut campaign. Contract talks with Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are reportedly being viewed as a priority.

The Reds want to keep a balance between experience and youth, with the trio seen as important to maintain that. The squad left behind by Klopp is also seen as being in good shape, with no major surgery needed on it during the summer transfer window.

Liverpool.com says: If Núñez is indeed shown that faith by Slot this summer, then he needs to repay it. There’s no doubt he has improved this season, but his wastefulness in front of goal is just far too frustrating.

As for Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold, hopefully those new deals can come to fruition. New signings will be needed during the summer, but keeping hold of a key trio like that will be just as crucial.