Arne Slot takes inspiration from six managers including Jürgen Klopp and two Liverpool rivals
Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Jürgen Klopp at the end of the season. Liverpool has been on the hunt for Klopp's replacement since January with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso and Sporting CP's Rúben Amorim seemingly the lead candidates.
But now it is Slot who appears to be Liverpool's first-choice to take over. According to The Athletic, the Reds approached the Feyenoord boss on Wednesday with talks already underway between the two clubs.
Slot was heavily pursued by Tottenham Hotspur last summer but opted to remain at Feyenoord in an attempt to defend the league title he secured in 2022/23. Despite an impressive campaign, his side is nine points short of PSV Eindhoven, having only losing two games
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Slot has received plenty of plaudits for his attacking style of play, drawing similarities to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. He previously worked as assistant to John van den Brom at AZ before replacing him as manager.
Van den Brom says: "He was an interesting coach because he wanted to develop. What was nice for me is that he always thought in an attacking way. We used a lot of videos of Manchester City and Bayern — he was crazy about Pep. How his teams create space, how they attack.”
The report goes on to state that Slot 'takes inspiration' from a host of other managers, including his potential predecessor at Anfield. Klopp will step down at the end of the season and will not play any role in the appointment of his successor.
It is also stated that Slot admires Mikel Arteta, who he could be battling for the Premier League title next season, as well as Marcelo Bielsa, Jorge Sampaoli and Luciano Spaletti.
Slot has previously clashed with Arteta, appearing to hit out at the Arsenal boss' training methods. The Dutchman signed Reiss Nelson on loan from the Gunners in 2021 but he picked up an injury soon after arriving. Slot suggested his sessions were 'a bit more intense' than what he was used to, reports The Mirror.
Arteta hit back though, insisting (via Metro): "We have in the last three years the highest intensity training sessions ever done. This is about volume. This is something different, that’s why we have an incredible team, a sports science team, that I fully trust because we have great personnel there and they look after that all the time."
Liverpool.com says: Whoever replaces Klopp has big shoes to fill but it appears Slot will know what to expect. If he brings a similar level of intensity, alongside a strong attacking approach, he will be off to a good start. Liverpool needs to make sure it has the right man at the helm for the new era.