Gini Wijnaldum delivers Arne Slot verdict as Liverpool's 'world-class' midfielder named

The Premier League season may have only just ended but that doesn't mean it's been a quiet few weeks at Anfield.

Liverpool are, of course, gearing up for a new era after Jurgen Klopp's departure at the end of the season with Arne Slot appointed as the club's new head coach.

Slot officially started his role on June 1 but life at Anfield won't truly begin until the early weeks of July when Liverpool's players return to pre-season.

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In the meantime, the ECHO takes a look at the latest news you may have missed during the off-season.

Gini Wijnaldum delivers Arne Slot praise

Former Anfield fan favourite Gini WIjnaldum has heaped the praise on Arne Slot and compared the Dutchman to bothWi Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp.

The 33-year-old, who won the Champions League and Premier League during his time with the Reds, started his professional career at Feyenoord before leaving for PSV Eindhoven in 2011.

However, while the midfielder was waiting for a transfer away from Paris Saint-Germain in August he returned to Feyenoord to keep his fitness levels up. It was there that he crossed paths with Slot.

And speaking to Algemeen Dagblad, Wijnaldum reserved high praise for the new Liverpool boss: “I trained at Feyenoord for a few days at the beginning of this season and saw how Slot worked," said Wijnaldum. "That was of a very high level; I thought that was really great.

"I can compare him to [Jurgen] Klopp and [Jose] Mourinho and say Slot is of the same level."

ECHO says: Liverpool fans should be encouraged by Wijnaldum's words, with the Dutchman having worked with some great managers - including Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp Mauricio Pochettino and Louis van Gaal - during his professional career.

Wijnaldum's recognition is similar to that of Van Gaal over the weekend, proving that Liverpool's new head coach has clearly garnered a lot of respect in his native Holland for his impressive work at Feyenoord in recent seasons.

Reds midfielder tipped for bright future at Anfield

Former Tottenham and Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart believes Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has the potential to become world-class.

The 22-year-old made the move to Anfield from Bayern Munich last summer in a deal worth roughly £35m but endured a mixed first season with the Reds as he failed to establish himself as a first-choice midfielder for Jurgen Klopp's side.

However, Van der Vaart believes Gravenberch has the potential to become one of the best in the world in his position having already played for three of Europe's biggest clubs.

Speaking to Sportskeeda, he said: "If Bayern and Liverpool want you, then you just go. He really has the potential to be world-class.

"If you go from Ajax to Bayern and Liverpool, and you don’t play much, then it is better to choose a club where you know you will just make a lot of minutes. And he has not done that.

"But, in the matches he has played, you can see that he is really a (quality) midfielder. I think he is so good. His potential is incredible.”

ECHO says: It is no surprise to see Gravenberch lauded with such high praise from Van der Vaart - even after a difficult first season at Anfield.

Of the 22-year-old's 26 Premier League appearances this season, just 12 of those were starts as he fell behind Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones - and later Harvey Elliott - in the midfield pecking order.

But there have been moments of promise from Gravenberch who, after a difficult summer last year in limbo at Bayern Munich, will be hoping to kick on and enjoy a stronger season at Anfield.