Arne Slot, the head coach of Feyenoord, has stated that he is “confident” that a deal would be done to replace Jurgen Klopp as the manager of Liverpool.
Feyenoord declined Liverpool’s initial bid for the 45-year-old, but the two sides are still in negotiations over the Dutchman’s appointment.
Slot said to ESPN prior to Feyenoord’s 3-1 Eredivisie victory against Go Ahead Eagles on Thursday, “The clubs are negotiating.” I’m waiting to hear the result.
“It’s no secret I want to go to Liverpool. Now I am waiting for the clubs to reach an agreement. I am confident that will happen.”
Slot’s remarks follow Liverpool’s £7.75 million bid for the former AZ Alkmaar manager; but, if Slot is to succeed Klopp, Liverpool’s outlay should be closer to £9 million.
Why is Slot so keen on Liverpool?
Due to his aggressive, full-throttle style, Slot, who won the Dutch Cup last weekend and guided Feyenoord to their first championship in six years last season, appeals to Liverpool.
His club is the best in the Eredivisie for tackles won in the final third of the opposition because he has drilled them into being skilled at converting defensive actions into shooting opportunities.
Feyenoord boasts the second-best offensive numbers and the strongest defensive in the league.
Operating on a lesser budget than his primary opponents, Slot has demonstrated his ability to improve both individuals and the team as a whole. Additionally, his preference for a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 configuration is a good fit for Liverpool’s roster.
Previous suitors for Slot include Leeds, Tottenham, and Chelsea. Although he recently inked a new deal that would keep him at Feyenoord until 2026, he has shown a desire to advance in his career.
Although sources claim Liverpool was considering Sporting Manager Ruben Amorim, he is now not in the running.
Although Paulo Fonseca, who is presently in charge of Lille, and Julen Lopetegui, the former manager of Real Madrid, Wolves, and Spain, are thought to be the front-runners, West Ham is still interested in Amorim.
Speaking to Sky Sports, former Liverpool defender Carragher said: “From Feyenoord to Liverpool is a huge jump and I think it shows at this moment that there’s probably a dearth of real top managers out there, when you look at who Liverpool are going for.
“Initially it was Xabi Alonso – it’s only his first full season as a manager – then there was talk of Ruben Amorim from Sporting, who’s only 39. Now Arne Slot is the favourite.”
Carragher added the scenario potentially facing Slot at Anfield differs from the one Klopp inherited in 2014 after his time in charge of Borussia Dortmund, or the one Rafa Benitez walked into in 2004 after leaving Valencia.
“I don’t think it’s like Benitez coming in, or Klopp,” he said. “Benitez coming in on the back of two LaLiga titles and a UEFA Cup, or Klopp winning a couple of league titles and getting to a Champions League final. Liverpool were actually in a different space then.
“That Liverpool team, certainly under Benitez that I was part of, we were the team trying to qualify for the top four. The same with Klopp when he came in.
“But Liverpool are in a different era now. They actually fancy themselves to challenge for the Premier League every season. Next season, in the Champions League they’d expect to get to the quarter-finals at least.
“I think it’s a huge jump but he’s obviously a great coach with a great track record so far. We’ll see.”
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