Feyenoord manager Arne Slot reveals that an “announcement” on his future will soon be made amid the expectation that he will be replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Liverpool-linked Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot has further suggested that he will soon be taking the reins at Liverpool and confirmed that an “announcement” on his future is imminent.
The 45-year-old is believed to be on the verge of replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield for the 2024-25 season and beyond, a role he confirmed he was interested in a few weeks ago.
Slot is still contracted to Feyenoord until the summer of 2026, but the two clubs are understood to have reached an agreement over a compensation package worth an initial £7.7m, which could rise to £9.4m.
Slot led Feyenoord to the 2022-23 Eredivisie title, and while they ceded their crown to PSV Eindhoven at the weekend, the former AZ Alkmaar boss oversaw a terrific display in a 5-0 thrashing of PEC Zwolle.
At full time, Slot appeared to be bidding farewell to the Rotterdam crowd, and prior to Sunday’s Eredivisie showdown, the 45-year-old briefly watched the start of Liverpool’s 4-2 Premier League success over Tottenham Hotspur.
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Slot: ‘Opportunities come along, and you have to listen’
Neither Liverpool nor Feyenoord have officially confirmed Slot’s move, but speaking to the press after Sunday’s victory, the Dutchman suggested that an announcement is not too far away and claimed that he simply had to listen to the ‘opportunity’ he was presented with.
“I saw a few minutes of the game but we had to come to the stadium,” Slot said, referring to Liverpool’s beating of Tottenham. “Just the first goal, a great goal. It was a good win from Liverpool. If the official confirmation is there, and I go there, I will watch a lot of games from them.
“Sometimes in life, opportunities come along and you have to listen. I have made that choice for myself. In the next days and weeks, you will see the announcement. Last year I made the choice to stay and now, I probably made another choice.”
Slot was head-hunted by Tottenham Hotspur last year as a permanent successor to Antonio Conte, but the Feyenoord boss opted to stay put in Rotterdam as Spurs hired Ange Postecoglou instead.
The Australian cut a forlorn figure as Liverpool stormed to victory on Sunday, though, leaving them mathematically still in with a chance of winning the Premier League title with two games left to play.
Which Feyenoord players could follow Slot to Liverpool?
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With Slot virtually through the Anfield doors, sporting director Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards – now the CEO of Football at Fenway Sports Group – will soon be able to switch their focus to a pivotal summer transfer window.
Slot’s arrival from Feyenoord will naturally raise speculation that he could bring one or two of his current Rotterdam troupe with him, and a couple of defenders spring to mind as the Reds eye a rearguard shake-up.
Slovakian centre-back David Hancko – a threat in both boxes – is on the radar of Liverpool, according to his agent, while Lutsharel Geertruida was seen in attendance at the Reds’ 2-2 draw with West Ham United two weekends ago.
Left-back Quilindschy Hartman is another defender to come on leaps and bounds under Slot, but the 22-year-old is currently recuperating from a serious knee injury, which could scupper his chances of a summer transfer.
Mats Wieffer and Quinten Timber – twin brother of Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber – could also reinforce the Liverpool midfield, while striker Santiago Gimenez is a man in demand, but a new number nine will not be high on Liverpool’s priority list this summer.