Liverpool supporters will be following the club’s pursuit of a new manager with intense interest. Xabi Alonso was the initial favorite, then Rúben Amorim looked the man most likely. Other managers like Roberto De Zerbi have also been in the frame, but it now appears that Arne Slot will face the task of replacing Jürgen Klopp.

He currently manages Feyenoord. While not the biggest club in Netherlands, it has won the European Cup once and the UEFA Cup twice, succeeding Liverpool as the winners of the latter competition in both 1974 and 2002.

With this level of success, it seems remarkable that the clubs have never played a competitive match. But the Reds signed both Jerzy Dudek and Dirk Kuyt from the Dutch side, and the latter has spoken to The Athletic about Slot's potential appointment.

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Kuyt has a connection with the Reds’ managerial target that few can match. “Feyenoord is my team in Holland,” he said. “My son plays in the academy there so now and then, myself and Arne have some contact.

“It was around this time last year that he gave me the opportunity to spend a week with him, so I could watch how he goes about his job. It was a fascinating experience,” Kuyt added. The former Liverpool man is now a manager himself and this season guided Beerschot to promotion to the Belgian Pro League, the top division in Belgium, in his first campaign in charge.

Kuyt continued to shower praise on Slot in the interview. “Tactically, he’s very strong. He knows exactly what he wants and he believes in it. It’s attractive, attacking football He likes to play an aggressive defense, high intensity, with the game played in the opponent’s half, but it’s his way. It’s different from Klopp but a lot of the principles are the same.”

Kuyt also said he was “a bit excited” at the prospect of Slot making the move, as “a Dutchman who is both a Feyenoord and Liverpool supporter.” The Beerschot boss isn’t worried about his countryman’s ability to make the leap to the Premier League either.

“Following in the footsteps of Jürgen isn’t easy but Arne will do it his own way and give everything to make the club successful,” Kuyt said. “He’s determined and driven with a lot of self-belief. His style of play is exactly what Liverpool supporters love to see at Anfield.”

Liverpool.com says: Most Liverpool fans won't know too much about Slot, so it's good to hear the view of a former Reds player. Kuyt's words certainly paint the Feyenoord boss in a very positive light. It sounds like the 45-year-old is capable of taking on the difficult task of replacing Klopp, while maintaining a broadly similar playing style. Kopites couldn't ask for much more.

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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes the appointment of Arne Slot would resemble a clear shift from the Jürgen Klopp era. The Feyenoord boss is the clear frontrunner to take over from Klopp this summer.

The Reds remain in negotiations with Feyenoord over appointing Slot this summer and he has revealed that he wants to take over at Anfield. Slot told ESPN: "The clubs are negotiating. I am awaiting the outcome.

"It's no secret I want to go to Liverpool. Now I am waiting for the clubs to reach an agreement. I am confident that will happen. I have the impression that a good offer has already been made. And it seems that Feyenoord is already going to make the highest-paid Dutch transfer fee for a coach."

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Liverpool has been linked with a number of managers since Klopp announced his plans to leave the club, most notably Xabi Alonso and Rúben Amorim. Carragher though believes Thomas Tuchel, who will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, should have been considered.

But he believes the appointment is likely to have been driven by ex-sporting director and FSG's CEO of Football Michael Edwards, with Slot tasked with simply leading the team as head coach.

Writing in his Telegraph column, the ex-defender says: "My overriding concern is this: does Slot move to England ready to take on Pep Guardiola for the Premier League and Champions League? The new Liverpool manager must say from the outset he is here to win, not just compete.

"I would have given more thorough consideration to a coach like Thomas Tuchel who took on and beat Guardiola in the ultimate test — a Champions League final. Tuchel followed Klopp at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund and did well.

"But my sense is Liverpool don’t want a coach with a reputation for being fractious. I would prefer a proven winner who could be difficult to manage to a coach who might be easy to manage but still have everything to prove.

"Liverpool seem to be moving into an era where they want the coach’s priority to be solely on preparing the team, while Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes assume most responsibility to construct a squad."

Liverpool and Feyenoord remain in negotiations over a compensation package for Slot. An initial offer of around $11m (£9m/€10.5m) was rejected (per The Athletic) but there is confidence an agreement can be reached.

Liverpool.com says: Slot has done a fine job at Feyenoord but it will be a big step up to manage Liverpool. He seems the right character to take on the challenge and will relish the opportunity. There is no doubt Tuchel is a top boss but it is clear Liverpool wants to go for a younger alternative.

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Liverpool supporters will be fascinated to see what the club spends this summer as it prepares for life without Jürgen Klopp. The Reds’ squad is in good shape but the new manager is likely to want to freshen it up to better suit their requirements.

Yet one of the biggest signings may be the manager himself. Liverpool is being heavily linked with Feyenoord boss Arne Slot, who steered his side to a 3-1 win at Go Ahead Eagles on Thursday. "It's no secret that I want to go to Liverpool," he said before the match. "The clubs are negotiating and I am waiting to see what will come out of it. We have to wait until an agreement is reached, but I have every confidence in that,” Slot added.

The negotiations look set to cost Liverpool a pretty penny. Dutch journalist Valentijn Driessen has claimed that Feyenoord look set to take inspiration from Roberto De Zerbi’s contract at Brighton when setting its price for Slot.

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“Feyenoord extended his contract last year and he already earns $3.8m (£3m/€3.5m) excluding bonuses,” Driessen said (via Sport Witness). “Truly a Premier League salary. Feyenoord can ask what they want.”

“He (De Zerbi) can be ransomed for $15m (£12m/€14m) at Brighton, so Feyenoord should always go above that. At least $16m (£13m/€15m) has to start coming on the table. That’s a record for a Dutch coach. I don’t think more than $5.4m (£4.3m/€5m) has ever been paid,” added Driessen.

De Zerbi had been among the favorites to succeed Klopp since the German announced he was leaving, so Liverpool may have been prepared to cover his release clause. The figure quoted above would make Slot one of the costliest managers in history though.

In 2022, The Times revealed that Chelsea paid a record $28m (£22m/€26m) to appoint Graham Potter from Brighton, making him the most expensive manager in history. It’s a costly business getting the man you want to lead your team as it appears Liverpool is about to learn.

Liverpool.com says: Appointing a new boss is not cheap these days. It looks like Slot will set Liverpool back a sizeable fee in managerial terms. But it is such a key role to fill correctly. A player who is signed but does not work out can be sold, yet a manager has to be paid to leave if they prove unsuccessful. The reported buy out clause for Slot could prove to be a very important down payment in Liverpool’s future.

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With four games left of the season and little to play for after Liverpool lost at Everton on Wednesday, it is understandable that the focus for some has shifted to what comes next: Arne Slot. Now confirmed by the man himself, negotiations are underway to bring the Dutch coach to Anfield.

Jürgen Klopp might have pointed out that Champions League qualification is not mathematically secured yet for the Reds but it would take a remarkable collapse for that not to be sorted out. Liverpool is still eight points ahead of Spurs even if you imagine that Tottenham has already won its two games in hand.

That means that it is nearly confirmed that Liverpool will end Klopp's final season with one trophy — the Carabao Cup — and a top-four finish. It wouldn't be the German's most successful campaign but it certainly wouldn't be his worst either.

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In all likelihood, the only thing that has stopped Liverpool from winning the title is injuries. Mid-season, the number of problems that arose was coped with at the time, but there has been a lag effect.

The likes of Joe Gomez and Wataru Endō have looked in recent weeks like they have been overplayed, while Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai have been shadows of their former selves since making a return. Klopp's squad, collectively, looks shattered.

Ultimately, though, the only reason that it feels to Reds fans like the end of the world that the title push has been derailed is the circumstances rather than the manner. Liverpool has overachieved this season, in many respects, even if it might not feel like it just yet.

Last summer, Liverpool rebuilt its entire midfield. It had finished behind Manchester United and Newcastle in the Premier League standings and key figures in the dressing room — Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho — moved on.

Klopp viewed this season as a fresh start and labeled his new-look side as Liverpool 2.0. Were it not for the fact that the German is leaving in four games' time, what has unfolded would be heralded as being a big step forward.

As ever, there is context and nuance. Liverpool was in pole position for the Premier League title only a couple of weeks ago and it was in the Reds' hands. From there, it has collapsed. Even then, though, it would have taken perfection to stave off Manchester City and Arsenal. Just one draw could have been fatal.

Last summer, had you said to most people that Liverpool would end up coming so close to winning the league and would also pick up some silverware at Wembley, everyone would have taken that. Only now has that changed because of Klopp.

That is only natural, of course, and no one is wrong to feel that way. When something is so close, the desperation for it to have happened is understandable. But equally, the reality is that Liverpool has improved dramatically this season and should do so again next year even with the change of manager.

If it is Slot who takes over, as appears close to being the case, then the Dutchman will have a talented squad available to him with the experience of this season under their belt. With a couple of transfer additions, the team will improve further as well and it will be his task to build on the foundations left behind.

When the disappointment of how the Klopp era is set to come to an end is replaced by the excitement for the season and a new head coach, Liverpool will realize its current reality. Things are never as bad as they might seem; this season has actually been a lot better than most people anticipated, even if it might take a little longer to appreciate that amid the current hurt.

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Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool and Feyenoord are in negotiations over a deal that could see him succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield in the summer. The Dutchman wants the move and has spoken out about it to confirm as much.

"It's no secret that I want to go to Liverpool," he has said, via Fabrizio Romano, ahead of Feyenoord taking on Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie. "The clubs are negotiating and I am waiting to see what will come out of it. We have to wait until an agreement is reached, but I have every confidence in that."

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk gave his approval of the potential appointment after his side was beaten by Everton. "I find it hard to answer of course, but I think Arne Slot is perhaps one of the better Dutch coaches at this moment," Van Dijk told Viaplay at Goodison Park.

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"I think the way of playing and the philosophy he has, that he could be a Liverpool coach. Only I think from what I read and hear is that it's still far from being completed. We shall see."

Liverpool has been impressed by Slot's work. He won the league title last year with Feyenoord and won the Dutch cup this season. He has a superb track record of developing players and making the most of his resources.

While PSV has overtaken Feyenoord in the Eredivisie standings this year and is set to confirm itself as league champion, Slot has undoubtedly got his side overperforming. If he does take over at Liverpool, he will become the 22nd man to be in full-time charge of the Reds and only the fourth from outside the UK.

Liverpool.com says: It certainly looks like it is going to happen. If Slot has been confident enough to talk about it like this then clearly there is something in it and it sounds like a deal might be close to being agreed. Given the public nature of the statement given by the 45-year-old, things might develop quickly.

Liverpool fans still have four matches left of the Klopp era to try and enjoy, despite the Premier League title being out of reach after the disappointing defeat to Everton. His final games are against West Ham United, Spurs, Aston Villa and Wolves.

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Liverpool is advancing with a move to bring Arne Slot to the club to take over from Jürgen Klopp. The Reds have identified the 45-year-old Eredivisie winner as someone who ticks a lot of boxes in their search.

And Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has given his approval if the appointment takes place. "I find it hard to answer of course, but I think Arne Slot is perhaps one of the better Dutch coaches at this moment," Van Dijk told Viaplay following his side's 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park against Everton on Wednesday.

"I think the way of playing and the philosophy he has, that he could be a Liverpool coach. Only I think from what I read and hear is that it's still far from being completed. We shall see."

READ MORE: 'No secret' - Arne Slot confirms Liverpool negotiations and outlines what he wants to happen

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According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool could complete a move for Slot as early as this weekend with talks developing quickly. There is no release clause in the Feyenoord head coach's contract after he signed a new deal last summer amid interest in him from Tottenham and he is expected to cost more than $12.5m (£10.0m/€11.6m) .

Liverpool admires the work that Slot has done at Feyenoord, where he won the league last season and last weekend added the Dutch cup to his collection. Getting the best out of his resources and playing in a similar style to Klopp are also big ticks in the boxes of Slot, who has previously admitted that he wants to work in the Premier League.

Liverpool.com says: Slot appears to be a logical choice for Liverpool. The more you learn about him, the more you can see why he appeals to Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes.

There is only really the question about whether he can deal with the step up to managing Liverpool compared to being in the Netherlands but that is something that can only be discovered by giving him a go. That would have been the same with the step up for Xabi Alonso from Bayer Leverkusen or Rúben Amorim from Sporting CP.

By all accounts, he has a positive personality and those with knowledge of how he is at Feyenoord paint a picture of someone who has a very good relationship with the fans. That is an absolute must for the Reds for whoever takes over from Klopp.

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