Pep Guardiola aims Liverpool spend jibe: “If Arne Slot wins again…”

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.

Image Credits: Imago Images

Pep Guardiola has sent a playful poke on the spending of both Liverpool and Arsenal this past summer transfer window.

Both the Premier League title challengers spent heavily.

Arsenal bought in the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5 million), Martin Zubimendi (£51 million), Christian Norgaard (£15 million), Eberechi Eze (£67.5 million), Viktor Gyokeres (£63.5 million), Noni Madueke £52 million), and Cristhian Mosquera (£13 million).

Piero Hincapie joined on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, taking their total spending to around £267 million.

Meanwhile, Liverpool shattered their transfer record twice during the summer window, first securing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100 million (potentially rising to £116 million), then making a British record £125 million signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.

Overall, Liverpool’s gross spending for the summer exceeded £414 million, making it the highest in the Premier League during this transfer window – but was offset by player sales in excess of £200 million.

Nevertheless, in his preview of his visit to the Emirates to face Arsenal this weekend, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on the spending of his counterparts.

The Spaniard then teased that should Arsenal or Liverpool win the Premier League this term, it should be pinned on their spending like it has been for Manchester City over the last decade:

“It is what it is; they decided to do it!

Only I want to say to my friend, Mikel Arteta, if he wins the title it will just be because of spending, not because he worked a lot,” he said as quoted by Cityzen Extra.

“Like Liverpool?

Because it’s not just Man City that it’s happened right!

I know how we have been treated is completely different, but what he wants to spend is because he wants it, and it’s fine!

“Then only thing I can say is they have been wise, they spent what they believe they can do, to compete against the best teams in the Premier League, in Europe, and they reached that level.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has defended the club’s heavy spend this summer. 

Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone