Liverpool FC is on the verge of naming a new manager.
According to football transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, the English Premier League side has agreed to terms with Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord for the services of Arne Slot.
As reported by Romano, the Reds and Feyenoord have agreed to a fee around €13M-15M ($13.9M-16M) three months after current boss Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to step down at the end of the season.
The fee will make Slot “the most expensive Dutch coach ever.”
On Thursday, Slot kept no secret when ESPN Netherlands asked the Feyenoord manager about rumors linking him with a move to England.
When asked about his intentions for next season, the Dutchman expressed his desire to move to Liverpool, adding that the transfer was simply pending on whether the clubs “reach an agreement” to proceed with the move.
“The clubs have to do their job,” Slot said. “And then I’m waiting and as the ‘main character.’ I have to respect that. It will undoubtedly become clear in the coming days.”
Klopp’s announcement on January 26 shocked the soccer world.
The Liverpool faithful openly expressed their desire for Xabi Alonso, whose stint in Liverpool as a player went down as one of the best in the club’s Premier League era, to take over for Klopp.
Alonso, who coaches at Bayer Leverkusen, announced last month his decision to stay in the German Bundesliga — leaving Liverpool supporters stunned for the second time and the Reds hierarchy left with the task of finding an ideal replacement.
After missing out on Alonso and before landing Slot, Liverpool was briefly linked with Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi before Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim became the favorite to land the role.
The three-month search was completed on Friday with four games remaining in Liverpool’s 2023-24 season.
At one point in the season, the high-flying Reds believed a four-trophy season was possible. Over the last month, the club has fallen out of two cup competitions and dropped well behind title challengers Arsenal and Manchester City.
On the bright side for Slot, Liverpool’s 14-point gap between itself and fifth-placed Tottenham appears to be enough to qualify the club to next year’s Champions League competition.