Liverpool have opened talks with Feyenoord’s Arne Slot about the possibility of the Dutchman becoming the next Liverpool manager.
According to Sky Sports, Slot has started negotiations with Liverpool after it was reported on Tuesday that the 45-year-old had emerged as the frontrunner to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Discussions are believed to be in the early stages, but the expectation is that if Slot is keen on the job, negotiations between the manager and the club will move quickly.
Slot may already be familiar with some Premier League followers, as he was heavily linked with Tottenham last summer before Ange Postecoglou became the preferred choice.
Slot enjoyed a modest playing career, predominantly with FC Zwolle and NAC Breda in the Dutch top-flight. He moved into management shortly after retiring at the age of 35, and after impressing as caretaker manager of SC Cambuur in the Dutch second division, Slot joined AZ Alkmaar, initially as an assistant manager, before being made head coach in 2019.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter propelling Alkmaar up the league table in such a short space of time, Feyenoord poached him in 2021 and since then his time at the club has been historic. After coming up short in the 2022 Europa Conference League final to Jose Mourinho’s Roma, Slot led Feyenoord to their first league title in six years last season, comfortably fending off the challenge of PSV and Ajax.
The feat was all the more remarkable considering how inferior Feyenoord’s spending power is compared to PSV and Ajax, who have been Netherland’s two main powerhouses both in Europe and domestically for the last 10 years.
Slot also secured the KNVB cup last weekend after a narrow victory over NEC Nijmegen.
Slot is fancied by Liverpool for his aggressive, full-throttle brand of football that is similar to the system Klopp has utilised so effectively during his almost eight-year tenure on Merseyside.
He has drilled his team to be proficient at converting defensive situations into shooting opportunities and they currently top the Eredivisie charts for tackles won the final third. Feyenoord also have the best defence in the league and the second-best offensive metrics.
Embed from Getty ImagesSlot has proved capable of improving players and managing a team that operates on a smaller budget. His preference for 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations also fits the setup of the current Liverpool squad.
Slot has previously been approached by Tottenham, Chelsea and Leeds but signed a new contract last May to keep him at Feyenoord until 2026. However, he has referenced a desire to pursue the next step in his career.
Sporting manager Ruben Amorim was under consideration by Liverpool, but sources say he is no longer in the frame, as it stands.
