Liverpool reach verbal agreement with Arne Slot to take over as manager

Slot led Dutch club, Feyenoord, to only their second Eredivisie title this century last season

Feyenoord's Arne Slot is expected to be the man to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager
Author: Carl Markham, PA and May NormanPublished 27th Apr 2024

Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Feyenoord for their head coach Arne Slot to succeed Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season.

The club made their move for the Dutchman earlier this week and after days of negotiation the PA news agency understands they have finally settled on a compensation package for the 45-year-old, who had two years left on his contract.

Slot had said on Thursday he was confident a deal would be reached after admitted it was "clear I would like to go to Liverpool".

The Feyenoord boss, who guided the club to their first title in six years last season and currently has them in second place in the Eredivisie table having won the Dutch Cup at the weekend, emerged as the preferred candidate earlier this week having been identified as meeting all the criteria set out in Liverpool's recruitment process.

He has already been given the seal of approval by Klopp, who has not been involved in the recruitment process.

"I like the way his team plays football, definitely," he said.

"All the things I hear about him - some people I know know him, I don't know him yet - but some people tell me that he's a really good guy, and I like that a lot.

"So, good coach, good guy, looking forward for the club. If he's the solution, or the man, then I'm more than happy.

Klopp continued: "It's not up to me to judge these things but it all sounds really good to me.

"It's the best job in the world, best club in the world. Obviously now, I help even by not finishing on a high - it looks like - so there's space for improvement.

"It's great job, fantastic people. He would take a really interesting job."

Klopp is standing down at the end of the season after nine years at the helm.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Hits Radio app.