Anfield Watch
·23 April 2024
Anfield Watch
·23 April 2024
Liverpool are in the market for a new manager with Jurgen Klopp set to quit and preferred target Xabi Alonso ruling himself out of contention.
Another candidate, Ruben Amorim, flew to London on Monday to talk to West Ham and it appears an ever more remote possibility that he arrives on Merseyside.
Accordingly, Arne Slot’s name has moved up the list of potential Klopp replacements, although Liverpool have also spoken with Paulo Fonseca of Lille.
Slot led his Feyenoord side to the KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) title on Sunday, downing NEC 1-0 thanks to a goal from Igor Paixao.
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It was the 45-year-old’s second major honour in charge, having claimed glory in the Eredivisie in the 2022-23 season.
Slot also led Feyenoord to the first-ever UEFA Europa Conference League final in 2022 and he is two-time Dutch manager of the year.
The ex-midfielder’s work at the Rotterdam has placed him high in the esteem of many top clubs around Europe with Tottenham coming close to signing the Dutchman last summer before alighting on Ange Postecoglou.
This summer he has been mentioned as an outsider for the soon-to-be vacant Bayern Munich job before the strong links with Liverpool emerged.
The manager, under contract until 2026, was answering questions following the cup final, providing no clear direction over whether he planned on remaining with his current club or not come the end of the season.
"If a club comes along that I find interesting, then I am no exception to any other employee in the football industry,” he told reporters.
“Then I will listen to it. If I think that is a very nice opportunity, then I also estimate that, based on what I have achieved at Feyenoord, that an agreement would be reached.”
Slot confirmed he would be willing to talk to interested parties and that was not appreciated by the former Ajax, PSV and Netherlands striker Wim Kieft, who openly states that staying at Feyenoord is merely the boss’s back-up option.
"This is now the second year in a row that he has kept it open,” Kieft told Veronica Offside on Monday.
“You could also just say: 'If a nice club comes, then I will leave', now he is compromising a bit.
"He does not say: 'I will stay 100 percent with Feyenoord', so Feyenoord is ultimately the second choice.
However, Kieft does admit that Slot deserves his chance at managing at a higher level.
"I think it would be understandable if he were to go,” he said. “Now he has shown and done it."
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