Arne Slot is on track to become Liverpool’s next manager following an agreement with Feyenoord on a compensation deal potentially reaching £9.4m.
The Dutchman is slated to replace Jurgen Klopp, who in January announced his decision to depart Anfield at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
Liverpool is set to finalize a contract with the 45-year-old Slot before officially appointing him.
The compensation package includes an upfront payment of £7.7m (9m euros) to Feyenoord, with an additional £1.7m (2m euros) in possible add-ons.
Slot has had notable success with Feyenoord, leading them to the 2022-23 Eredivisie championship, winning the Dutch Cup this season, and on track to finish second in the league.
Slot’s appointment is believed to be influenced by his teams’ attacking playstyle, his personality, and his proven ability to develop players, aligning with Liverpool’s criteria for their new manager.
Slot became the manager of Feyenoord in 2021 and expressed his interest in managing in the Premier League when he was associated with Tottenham in 2023.
Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool midfielder who led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title this season, was also considered for the Liverpool managerial role. However, the 42-year-old Spaniard quelled speculation in March by announcing his decision to stay with Leverkusen for the foreseeable future.
Ruben Amorim of Sporting Lisbon was another reported candidate to succeed Klopp, who has led the Reds since October 2015.
Klopp, who was not involved in selecting his successor, praised Slot’s tactical approach during a press conference on Friday, noting there is much to admire about how Slot’s teams play the game.
“I like the way his team play football. All the things I hear about him as a guy say he’s a good guy,” Klopp said.
“I like that a lot – good guy, good coach and looking forward for the club if he is the solution. I’m more than happy, it sounds all really good.”
Asked about the job Slot would be taking on if appointed, Klopp added: “Best job in the world, best club in the world. Now it looks like [Slot is] helped by [Liverpool] not finishing on a high so there’s space for improvement.”
Slot’s route to Liverpool
Slot, a former midfielder, played his entire career in the Netherlands, amassing over 100 appearances each for FC Zwolle and NAC Breda.
Following his retirement from playing, he started his coaching career as a youth coach at PEC Zwolle, later moving to SC Cambuur as an assistant manager.
In 2017, he joined AZ Alkmaar and was promoted to manager two years later. During his first season in charge, AZ Alkmaar was tied for first place with Ajax when the Covid-19 pandemic abruptly ended the season.
He was dismissed in December 2020 amid allegations that he had been in talks with Feyenoord.
Slot confirmed on Thursday he wanted to make the move to Liverpool, telling ESPN: “It seems clear to me that I would like to work there.”