What Arne Slot has said about Liverpool as Arsenal star endorses Jurgen Klopp replacement

Feyenoord's Arne Slot is the latest manager to be linked with replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool for the 2024/25 season and beyond.

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso and Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim appeared to be the two main candidates, but neither seem likely to take over at Anfield. Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Tuchel have also been linked with the impending vacancy and now Slot has joined the frontrunners.

The 45-year-old looked set to join Tottenham last summer before emphatically committing his future to Feyenoord. Despite turning down the role in north London, Slot remained in the headlines following a clear admission about his future.

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"My next step will not be a club in Holland," he said last year, via Sky Sports. "If that is my next step, then I've failed completely. The normal next step will be to go abroad and I've always said the best league in the world is the Premier League."

With Klopp announcing his departure back in January, Slot was soon directly asked about the Liverpool job with his answer a telling one. He said: “What answer can I give that there will be no headlines about it? So next question!” However, later in that press conference, Slot delivered a thorough answer when asked about Klopp.

"I think it is incredibly impressive that [Klopp] has been so good at that level for so long, with so much energy for nine years," he said. "I see it as a special achievement that you can maintain that level for nine years with so much dedication and passion. Especially when you consider how many games we play. Let alone how many they play in England."

Because of his playstyle and man-management, Slot has earnt a lot of admirers with Arsenal star Reiss Nelson playing under the Dutchman while on loan away from Emirates Stadium.

"Holland was great for me. I felt like Arne Slot is a great manager. He really got me into my rhythm. He gave me a lot of opportunities to play and I excelled,” the Arsenal player told Colney Carpool after spending a season on loan at Feyenoord.

“It was really cool, like I said we got to the final. It was just the little things with the personal life, not my family around, the Corona situation. So it was a bit tough. But football-wise, it was perfect.”