Liverpool and Feyenoord have verbally agreed for Dutch manager Arne Slot to take over from Jurgen Klopp from the start of next season.
Liverpool and Feyenoord were close to finding an agreement and that deal, which could reach up to £9.42million, was brokered late in the evening.
The agreement also is expected to include a move for Slot’s right-hand man Sipke Hulshoff, who has done a secondment at the Netherlands national team, and head of performance Ruben Peeters. Analyst Etienne Reijnen will also join the Merseyside club.
It is understood that the Liverpool squad is delighted with Arne Slot’s impending appointment. However, they are fully focused on the rest of the season for now and ending Jurgen Klopp’s era on a high.
Jurgen Klopp publicly endorsed Slot on Friday as a ‘good coach and good guy’, with the German now having just four games remaining as Liverpool boss.
He has already been given the seal of approval by Klopp, who has not been involved in the recruitment process.
‘I like the way his team plays football, definitely,’ he said.
‘All the things I hear about him – some people I know knows him, I don’t know him yet – but some people tell me that he’s a really good guy, and I like that a lot”.
‘So, good coach, good guy, looking forward to the club.
‘If he’s the solution or the man, then I’m more than happy. It’s not up to me to judge these things but it all sounds good to me. It’s the best job in the world, the best club in the world. Obviously now, I help even by not finishing on a high – it looks like – so there’s space for improvement”.
‘It’s a great job, fantastic people. He would take a really interesting job.’
Slot had emerged as Liverpool’s preferred candidate to take over from Jurgen Klopp, who has four games left at the club.
Slot, who was considered by both Tottenham and Chelsea last summer, has found immense success since joining the Dutch side in 2021 and has become one of the most progressive coaches in European football.
He recently guided his side Feyenoord to victory in the KNVB Cup; the second trophy he has won in charge of the Rotterdam giants, having made them domestic champions 12 months ago.
His accolades at the Dutch side have made him an ideal candidate to succeed Klopp at Anfield and the Reds have now stepped up their pursuit of the 45-year-old.