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Arne Slot admits Liverpool missed out on signing Lutsharel Geertruida from Sunderland in the final days of the January transfer window as the Dutchman sought defensive reinforcements.

The champions are have been stretched defensively this term with summer signing, Giovanni Leoni, suffering a season-ending ACL injury back in September. Slot then lost Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong to injuries in January, leading Liverpool to make a move for a Geertruida, who captained Feyenoord during Slot's time at the helm.

A deal to bring the 25-year-old, who is on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig, to Anfield was too complex with Liverpool instead pushing through a £60million deal to sign the Rennes defender, Jeremy Jacquet, this summer.

While Jacquet - also courted by Chelsea - will bolster Liverpool next season, Slot concedes he was after reinforcements for the here and now.

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"I think I've said that we've tried to strengthen the squad, so that probably tells you [I wanted players] and I don't think I was the only one who wanted that," Slot said on Thursday. "But it's always about availability and the right player.

"We do have discussions about what is good for the short and for the long term of the club and now, for example, Jeremy Jacquet wasn't available for the winter, but he was for the summer.

"We've made a decision to sign him because we think he's a really good signing for the future of this club. I'm very happy with the squad. Let that be clear. But it's all clear and obvious, that we have three long-term injuries (Bradley, Leoni, Alexander Isak).

"That's why we've tried to strengthen the squad in winter break and the player you mentioned (Geertruida), in the end, wasn't available. But we've tried to strengthen the squad - that is clear.

"And that tells you that we think that it would have helped us. But it should be possible that we're not gonna sign players that are not good enough to play for this club."

While Slot would have welcomed fresh blood ahead of the final third of the season, he has no qualms about the fact Liverpool were unable to make a signing before the deadline, adding he understands the constraints he works under at Anfield. "I have always worked the same," he continued. "I always want the best for the club. Of course sometimes there is interest from an individual, could be a player or manager.

"But I always want the best for the club even if in the short term it is not ideal for me. I am not saying it is but if it means this, I would always go for the signing that is best for the club. I knew which club I went into, this club has a model of signing talented players younger.

"I have always liked to work in that way. I am also the head coach and not the manager, I prefer this because the amount of work you have to do as a head coach is so much, I wonder how people could have done those two jobs.

"I don’t have time to watch 10 live games of a new player coming in and if I do, I cannot have time to do my job as a head coach as I am doing now."

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