Arne Slot has revealed that an agreement to become Liverpool’s new boss is almost complete – but the Dutchman is facing a fight to bring his backroom team with him from Feyenoord.
Slot will sign a deal to succeed Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season after a series of positive meetings with new Kop kingmaker Michael Edwards. But the Dutchman has admitted there are still some details to be ironed out – and his plan to bring assistant Sibke Hulshoff, second assistant Etienne Reijnen and head of performance Ruben Peeters is also being held up by complications.
Liverpool, who have already agreed to pay Feyenoord an £11million compensation package for Slot, have been told they will have to cough up another £2m for his trusted team. Hulshoff’s position is complicated further by the fact that he is going to Euro 2024 as assistant to Holland boss Ronald Koeman this summer – and Liverpool want him to start his contract on July 1, before the tournament ends.
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Slot, 45, assured Dutch journalists that he is Anfield-bound, saying: “I can’t reveal the details right now, but it is not about my contract. There are a combination of factors which is the cause why there is no announcement yet. But don’t worry. It will happen. I know I have been saying this every time over the past week, but I do expect that it really is a matter of days now. Some things just need more time.”
Jurgen Klopp's approach with Robert Lewandowski bodes well for Darwin NunezSlot is also in the hunt for a new goalkeeping coach after long-serving John Achterberg decided to follow Klopp out of the club. Achterberg is set to take up an offer to work with former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard at Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq.
Liverpool face top-four chasing Aston Villa on Monday night before bringing the curtain down on Klopp’s eight-and-a-half-year reign against Wolves at an emotional Anfield on Sunday. The German is looking for a positive end to his tenure after seeing Liverpool’s bid for a quadruple crumble in the weeks since they were knocked out of the FA Cup at Manchester United. Unai Emery ’s side will provide a stern test.
Klopp said: “We have the chance to go above 80 points again. You should never take things like that for granted. Vila will want to have a good last home game because they have played an incredible season. They are likely to qualify for the Champions League.
“Unai is doing an incredible job but we will definitely give it a try. He is one of the best in the business, 100 per cent. Wherever he has been he has had success. The job he is doing at Villa is exceptional. He always organises his team extremely well – and we all know how important it can be for a club to qualify for the Champions League.”
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