Liverpool new manager latest as Feyenoord boss Arne Slot becomes leading contender

Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has emerged as a leading candidate for Liverpool as they ramp up their search for a successor to Jurgen Klopp.

Slot has been in charge of the Dutch side for three seasons, reaching the Europa Conference League final in 2022 and then winning their first Eredivisie title in six years last term. Feyenoord are second in the table this campaign and at the weekend won the Dutch Cup.

It is understood Slot has become strongly fancied by the Anfield hierarchy given he fits all of the criteria that have been set out during the process of finding Klopp's replacement, which is being led by Fenway Sports Group chief executive of football Michael Edwards.

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Slot is not the only candidate Liverpool are continuing to pursue, although the pool of options has gradually become smaller with Xabi Alonso choosing to stay at Bayer Leverkusen and the Reds' interest in Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim having now cooled. Amorim is being linked with the West Ham United job should David Moyes depart at the end of the season.

The 45-year-old Slot is under contract until 2026 having signed a new deal last summer, with Feyenoord keen for him to stay at the club. However, there is a suggestion the Dutchman is ready to take the next step in his managerial career. Feyenoord cancelled a regular press conference for Wednesday to preview their game at Go Ahead Eagles.

Liverpool would face competition from a number of other clubs, with Bayern Munich and Barcelona both believed to have also been impressed with the work Slot has done at Feyenoord.

The Dutchman has attracted previous interest from Premier League clubs, with both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea having wanted him before appointing Ange Postecoglou and Mauricio Pochettino respectively last summer.

Slot was a midfielder during his playing career where he featured for Dutch sides FC Zwolle, NAC Breda, Sparta Rotterdam and PEC Zwolle. After retiring in 2013, he worked in various coaching roles before becoming assistant coach at AZ Alkmaar in 2017 where he became head coach two years later. However, he was sacked in December 2020 after being accused of not focusing on the team having negotiated a move to Feyenoord at the end of the season.