Sun. Dec 22nd, 2024
Occasional Digest - a story for you

Liverpool are set to open talks with Feyenoord on Wednesday over manager Arne Slot as they search for Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

Klopp announced in January he would leave Anfield at the end of the season and the Reds have been conducting extensive research around a number of candidates.

Slot, who led Feyenoord to the 2022-23 Eredivisie title, has emerged as a candidate who fits Liverpool’s criteria.

Feyenoord have won the Dutch Cup this season and are second in the Eredivisie.

Slot was linked with Leeds United after they sacked manager Jesse Marsch in February 2023.

He then ruled himself out of contention for the Tottenham Hotspur job last summer before Ange Postecoglou took over.

The 45-year-old then extended his contract with Feyenoord until 2026.

If Liverpool do want to appoint Slot, they will have to negotiate a fee with Feyenoord as he does not have a release clause for this summer. There is one in his contract but it can’t be activated until next year.

At the time he was being linked with Spurs, Slot said: “The next step will not be another club in Holland. If that is the next step, I’ve failed completely in the upcoming few years.

“A normal next step would be to go abroad and I’ve always said that the best league in the world is the Premier League.”

The attacking style of Slot, who is also thought to be interesting Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and his ability to develop players are believed to appeal to Liverpool.

He became Feyenoord head coach in December 2020 after leaving AZ Alkmaar, where he enjoyed success in his first managerial position.

The former midfielder spent his entire playing career in the Netherlands, making more than 100 appearances for both FC Zwolle and NAC Breda.

Xabi Alonso was linked with the Anfield job but the former Reds midfielder announced in March he would stay on at Bayer Leverkusen, who have since become German champions.

Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim is another manager heavily linked with the Liverpool job.

Source link