Arne Slot will be new Liverpool head coach, replacing Jurgen Klopp

 

Liverpool and Feyenoord have agreed a compensation package that will allow Arne Slot to become Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Anfield.

The 45-year-old Dutchman is now free to join Liverpool in the summer after the conclusion to Feyenoord’s Eredivisie campaign.

The Athletic reported earlier this week that Liverpool had an opening offer of €9million (£7.7m, $9.6m) rejected by Feyenoord but the two parties have now reached an agreement.

Slot confirmed on Thursday that he wanted the Liverpool job, telling ESPN before Feyenoord’s Eredivisie win over Go Ahead Eagles that he was “confident” an agreement would be reached between the two sides for a move to go through.

Slot’s imminent appointment was endorsed by Klopp at his press conference on Friday afternoon ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League match against West Ham United.

“What I like a lot about it is if he is the one then he wants to take the job – he’s desperate, excited, let’s go for it,” said Klopp, who is stepping down at the end of season after nine years at the helm.

“I like the way his team play football and all the things I hear about him as a guy. Some people I know, know him, I don’t know him yet. Good coach, good guy.

“If he’s the solution for the club then I am more than happy. It’s not up to me to judge but it all sounds really good to me.”

Liverpool’s interest in Slot only became apparent earlier this week, as they placed emphasis on discretion and showing respect to Feyenoord ahead of last Sunday’s Dutch Cup final, a match they then won against Nijmegen.

Slot guided Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title last season and his side are second in the table with three matches remaining this term. Following last season’s title win, Slot attracted the interest of Tottenham Hotspur but the 45-year-old eventually turned them down and they appointed Ange Postecoglou instead.

Slot has won plaudits for his attacking style of football and ability to develop younger players — attributes which closely align with what Liverpool are looking for as they search to replace Jurgen Klopp, who announced his departure from the club at the end of this season in January.

Xabi Alonso — before he announced last month he is to remain at Bayer Leverkusen for next season — and Ruben Amorim were among the other candidates Liverpool considered to replace Klopp before they settled on Slot. After their arrivals earlier this year, Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football, Michael Edwards, and Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s newly appointed sporting director, have taken charge of the managerial search.

Liverpool are third in the table and face West Ham United in their next match.