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Arne Slot: Liverpool and Feyenoord have agreed on an incentive plan that will allow Slot to replace Klopp at Anfield.
The 45-year-old Dutchman is now free to join Liverpool in the summer, following the conclusion of Feyenoord’s Eredivisie season.
The Athletic claimed earlier this week that Feyenoord rejected Liverpool’s first offer of €9 million (£7.7 million, $9.6 million), but the two parties have now reached an agreement.
The agreement’s terms have still to be confirmed, with Dutch sources telling The Athletic that the agreed sum is between €13 million and €15 million (£11.1 million and £12.8 million), and Liverpool sources suggesting the fee is about €11 million (£9.4 million).
Slot reaffirmed on Thursday that he wanted the Liverpool job, telling ESPN before Feyenoord’s Eredivisie win against Go Ahead Eagles that he was “confident” the two sides would strike an agreement for the move to proceed.
Sipke Hulshoff, Feyenoord’s assistant coach, and Ruben Peeters, head of performance, are poised to join Slot at Liverpool.
Klopp endorsed Slot’s imminent hiring during his news conference on Friday afternoon, ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League match against West Ham United.
“What I like a lot about it is that if he is the one, he wants to take the job – he’s desperate, excited, let’s go for it,” said Klopp, who will leave at the conclusion of the season after nine years in charge.
“I admire the way his squad plays football and everything I’ve heard about him as a person. Some people I know know him, but I don’t yet. Good coach, good person.
“If he is the club’s solution, I am delighted. It’s not my place to judge, but everything seems pretty excellent to me.”
Arne Slot: the reasons for Liverpool selecting the powerful head coach of Feyenoord to follow Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool’s interest in Slot only made obvious earlier this week, when they emphasized discretion and respect for Feyenoord ahead of last Sunday’s Dutch Cup final, which they won over Nijmegen.
Slot led Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title last season, and his team is second in the table with three games left this season. Following last season’s title success, Tottenham Hotspur expressed interest in Slot, but the 45-year-old eventually declined, and Ange Postecoglou was chosen instead.
In a bid to succeed Jurgen Klopp, who announced his resignation from the team at the end of the season in January, Liverpool is searching for someone with Slot’s attacking style of play and capacity to develop younger players. Slot has garnered accolades for these traits.
Before choosing Slot as their new manager, Liverpool also contemplated Xabi Alonso and Ruben AmorimAlonso said last month that he will stay with Bayer Leverkusen for the upcoming campaign.
The manager search has been led by Richard Hughes, the recently hired sports director at Liverpool, and Michael Edwards, the football CEO of Fenway Sports Group, who arrived earlier this year.
Liverpool is third in the table and will face West Ham United in their next encounter.
Why did Liverpool choose Slot?
Analysis from The Athletic’s Liverpool correspondent, James Pearce.
Liverpool has got their man.
After evaluating the merits of numerous managerial candidates around Europe, Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football Michael Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes arrived at Feyenoord’s door.
Following a rigorous due diligence procedure, Arne Slot was considered to be the best candidate for the position based on the major criteria.
Edwards and Hughes are very impressed by his attacking, high-intensity, and engaging playing style. They believe it will complement the roster of players he inherits.
His established track record of developing young players, as well as his leadership and communication abilities, are very noteworthy. Those who had worked with him provided glowing character recommendations.
It’s obviously a significant step forward for Slot. Jurgen Klopp’s departure leaves large shoes to fill.
The pressure and attention at Anfield will be worlds apart from life in Rotterdam. Slot has never coached in one of Europe’s five major leagues, so it’s a bit of a gamble.
But, in reality, whomever Liverpool chose after Xabi Alonso took himself out of contention would have divided opinion.
Slot’s body of work in Holland is really significant. He now has to repay the trust placed in him.
