Slot Emerges As Clear Favourite For Liverpool Job

With Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirming that he would be leaving Anfield at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, the last few months have been full of rumour mill speculation as to who might replace the 56 year old.

Fans have obviously seen the news cycle between the likes of former midfielder Xabi Alonso, right down to even impressive Brighton and Hove Albion gaffer Roberto De Zerbi, but the main focus has been on our current campaign and whether Klopp can go out on a real high and lift the Premier League title once again. 

We’ve fallen short but that doesn’t take away from a truly unforgettable era. Many of our players’ attention will have already turned to the summer with the Euros fast approaching. The current Euro betting tips suggest Trent Alexander-Arnold is the Liverpool player in with a real shot of bringing a medal back to Anfield. 

The chances of Premier League glory officially ended at West Ham, following the massive slip up against Everton at Goodison Park in the midweek fixture, and Manchester City & Arsenal both took advantage of the dropped points - but there can be little we did all we could to take it to the wire.

As we wait for the next game to cycle around, the speculation surrounding Feyenoord manager Arne Slot has certainly kicked up a gear and some outlets were reporting that we had now opened talks with the Dutch Eredivisie side over his potential appointment.

Speaking to the media ahead of their game on Thursday against Go Ahead Eagles, 45 year old Slot told ESPN that he was very interested in seeing what happens with our approach for his services as it 'seems clear' to him that he would like the opportunity to make the move to us and test himself in the English top flight division.

Whilst he understandably remained focused on their game, which they ultimately won 3-1 on the night, he did confirm that negotiations continued between both clubs but he was not yet involved in those talks. He was, however, 'confident' that an agreement would eventually be struck.

Whilst he is not a very well known name in the English game, he had previously been linked with moves to both Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United, so some who pay slightly ore attention to the European game of football will have come across him, and be aware that he won the Dutch title back in the 2022/23 campaign, and lifted this season's Dutch Cup.

With a firm contract still in place, our negotiations with them will have to involve a compensation figure as he currently does not have an optional release clause in the deal that applies for this summer. There is one in the wider contract, but it does not come into play until next year.

It does feel like there is some traction behind this speculation, especially with Slot being open to talking freely about the deal happening, albeit remaining brief in his comments, and even skipper Virgil van Dijk has seemingly been given the greenlight to openly address the issue himself.

He has also spoken to the media this week and explained that he felt Slot's playing ethos would be suited to the club and the players that we currently have. He also said that in his judgement, Slot was one of the 'better Dutch coaches' that are out there at this moment in time.

Fans will simply have to wait and see for what the eventual outcome of the negotiations are, and until they come to a conclusion it will be mostly all eyes to the Premier League and the few remaining games that are now left in the year.

Written by Alan Spencer