Liverpool make £25m transfer demand as Premier League fixtures serve as warning to Arne Slot

The new season is almost upon us with the release of the 2024/25 fixtures meaning that eyes turn to the return of the Premier League.

There is of course things going on between now and then with the summer transfer window, the continuation of Euro 2024 and the Copa America still to come. But that doesn’t mean that preparations are stalling.

Arne Slot will be working hard to prepare for his first season in charge of Liverpool with eyes on transfers and the work that will be done during pre-season. Many of his squad are currently on international duty.

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Ahead of the new season, we’ve taken a look at some of the latest news doing the rounds and given our own view on the situation.

Kelleher update

Celtic could be priced out of a move for Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher this summer, according to footballscotland. The Republic of Ireland international looks set to move on from Liverpool as he searches for more first-team football.

The Athletic report that the Reds have put an asking price of £25million on the player. That could prove to be too much for Celtic who are on the lookout for a replacement for Joe Hart following the former England man’s retirement.

ECHO Sport says: Kelleher ended the last campaign with 26 appearances in all competitions and proved himself to be a more than able deputy for Alisson Becker. But such is the life of a second-choice goalkeeper that he is not guaranteed to play as many minutes in the upcoming campaign.

If he wants to move on, which from previous comments, it seems he does, then Liverpool may have to begrudgingly let him go. Having already rejected a £15million bid from Nottingham Forest in January, the Reds will be looking for a bigger fee should they cash in during the summer.

Fixture reaction

Liverpool will kick off their Premier League campaign on Saturday, August 17 against newly promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road with the game kicking off at 12.30pm.

The Tractor Boys’ manager Kieran McKenna is delighted with the first game. “Everyone’s going to be so excited, two of the biggest clubs in world football, home start against Liverpool, it brings it all to life, and it’s an amazing start for us,” he told Sky Sports.

“We’re delighted to have a home game first. We know the atmosphere that has been created over the last couple of years in the stadium, and we know that will carry on even more so this year.

“So it’s great to have a home start, to have one of the best teams in the league, for sure, is a big challenge.

“Of course new manager and things like that, but we’re certainly not going to underestimate the scale of the challenges that we’re going to have all season, and certainly Liverpool will be that on the first day.

“But at the same time, it’s great to have a home start. The atmosphere is going to be fantastic. The players will be as ready as they possibly can be, and it’s a game we’ll really look forward to.”

ECHO Sport says: On paper, playing a newly-promoted side in the first game of the season should be one of the easier fixtures for Liverpool to start with, but football isn’t played on paper. They will face a raucous atmosphere at Portman Road and will come up against an Ipswich side eager to show that they belong at this level.

It could therefore be a difficult first game in charge for Arne Slot. He will have to make sure his team are fully prepared for what lies ahead of them.