Liverpool have reportedly lined up Feyenoord coach Arne Slot as the successor to departing manager Jurgen Klopp and have opened negotiations with the Eredivisie club, according to Dutch media outlet Algemeen Dagblad. The report claims that Liverpool made contact with Feyenoord on Wednesday morning to discuss the potential appointment of Slot, who has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the past. Slot opted to stay at Feyenoord last year and signed a contract extension with the Dutch side until 2026, but it is believed that Liverpool will have to pay an undisclosed sum to secure his services.
Slot has been widely praised for his innovative and attacking style of football with Feyenoord, leading the Rotterdam club to the league title in the 2022-23 season, as well as the KNVB Cup on Sunday. In his first season at Feyenoord, he also led the club to the final of the inaugural Europa Conference League. Slot began his coaching career at AZ Alkmaar, first as an assistant under John van den Brom, and then head coach from 2019-20.
Feyenoord CEO Dennis te Kloese responded to questions over Slot’s future in an interview with ESPN earlier this week, saying: “We assume that he will also be our trainer next year. We have experienced this situation before and will take good care of our own interests.”
Liverpool were linked with a move for their former player and Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso earlier this year, but the Spaniard opted to commit his future to the Bundesliga champions. Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim was also among the names linked with the top job at Liverpool.
Klopp announced in January that he would stand down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season. The German joined the club in October 2015 and has won the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup, and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield. In his final campaign, Liverpool have won the League Cup and remain in contention for the Premier League title. Liverpool sit second in the standings with 74 points from 33 matches, three behind leaders Arsenal but with a game in hand. They visit local rivals Everton in a league match later on Wednesday.
