Arne Slot has declared his desire to move to Liverpool and his “confidence” that such a move will happen.
The Feyenoord manager was speaking with ESPN prior to the club’s Eredivisie match against Go Ahead Eagles. He has emerged as Liverpool’s top contender to replace Jürgen Klopp.
The clubs are negotiating, that much I can tell about it. After that, you wait in the waiting area to see what will happen. I think it’s obvious that I want to go to Liverpool,” he declared.
“I’m waiting to see if the clubs can come to an agreement now. In that, I am quite confident.
Slot added: “I have to respect that as the’main character’; the clubs have to do their job and then I am waiting.” Undoubtedly, in the days to come, it will become apparent. That I desire to go to Liverpool is well known.
Though he still has two seasons left on his contract, Liverpool has now formally approached the 45-year-old, who is also being pursued by Bayern Munich and Milan.
Release from the last two years of his Feyenoord contract will cost a compensation sum of about €10 million (£8.5 million).
The two clubs are still negotiating.
Slot guided Feyenoord to victory in the KNVB Cup on Sunday and took home the Eredivisie championship the previous season.
Having taken over for Dick Advocaat, he also made it to the Europa Conference League final in his first season in charge.
Finding Klopp’s successor has fallen to Michael Edwards, the chief executive of football for Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group, and Richard Hughes, the new sporting director.
But they think Slot’s style of play will enhance what Klopp has done with the Liverpool team and fit inside FSG’s budget.
“I think Arne Slot is perhaps one of the better Dutch coaches at this moment,” said Virgil van Dijk, the captain of Liverpool, endorsing the qualifications of his fellow Dutchman. I believe he could be a coach at Liverpool given his style of play and mindset.
