Liverpool has selected Feyenoord coach Arne Slot as a potential candidate to succeed Jurgen Klopp as manager, having cooled their interest in Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim.
With top target Xabi Alonso opting to stay with recently crowned Bundesliga winners Bayer Leverkusen rather than return to his former club, Slot has moved ahead of Amorim and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi in the hunt to succeed Klopp, according to ESPN.
According to insiders, Liverpool expects to compete with Barcelona and Bayern Munich for Slot’s services, therefore they will continue to evaluate other alternatives.
Klopp, who has won the Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool since taking over from Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, stated in January that he will leave his job at the conclusion of the season.
Following Klopp’s surprising announcement — the 56-year-old notified Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, FSG, of his decision in November — Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan stated that the club will pursue a “data-led” approach to hiring a new manager.
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Arne Slot has emerged as a top candidate to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool’s head coach.
Former sports director Michael Edwards returned to Anfield this month as head of football operations with the job of selecting and appointing Klopp’s successor, according to ESPN sources.
Slot, who guided Feyenoord to the Dutch title last season, has become a strong contender to land the Liverpool job.
Slot, 45, rejected Premier League advances from both Chelsea and Tottenham last season in order to remain at Feyenoord. He signed a new three-year contract with the Rotterdam-based team in May 2023, thereby committing himself to the club until 2026.
Sources have told ESPN that the Liverpool hierarchy, led by Edwards and Hogan, believes that Slot fits all of its criteria in terms of style of play, personality and ability to work within the club’s structure.
There is an acceptance within Anfield that Feyenoord will attempt to hold onto Slot, but there is also a hope that the lure of the Premier League could prompt the former AZ Alkmaar coach to take the opportunity to move to England.
Liverpool are second in the Premier League, level on points with leaders Arsenal, and face a derby clash against Merseyside rivals Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
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