Liverpool's search for a new coach is almost at an end. While current Feyenoord boss Arne Slot hasn't officially been confirmed as the Reds' new coach, the general feeling is it's only a matter of time and the announcement may come at the end of the season.

Finding Jürgen Klopp's replacement hasn't been an easy quest for Liverpool. Xabi Alonso was the immediate favorite to replace Klopp, considering his status as a Liverpool icon and his tremendous work at Bayer Leverkusen, where it is still unbeaten and could complete a historic treble.

Alonso however made it known that he intends to stay in Leverkusen for another season, to build on the success of this season and see where he can take this side. Liverpool then shifted focus, with Sporting CP boss Rúben Amorim emerging as the new favorite as links intensified.

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Amorim flew to London to hold talks with West Ham over potentially succeeding David Moyes ahead of next season. This was viewed by some as a way to put pressure on Liverpool to hire him but, in the end, the plan didn't seem to work as Slot emerged as the favorite and has seemingly won the race to follow in Klopp's footsteps.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool pulled away from Amorim because the club felt his tactical scheme of choice — a 3-4-3 formation — wasn't compatible with the current crop of players the Reds has, and that the Portuguese coach wasn't willing to shift to a 4-3-3, which is more in line with Liverpool.

Aside from the odd alteration to a 4-2-3-1 under Klopp, Liverpool has been primarily built for a 4-3-3 in the nine years he's been in charge, and the players in the squad reflect that. Moreover, Football Insider states that there will not be a major revolution in the squad this summer, with Slot expected to work chiefly with what is already there, barring one or two signings should players leave.

Sporting is currently top of Primeira Liga, five points ahead of Benfica. Feyenoord sits second in the Eredivisie under Slot, with the Dutch side nine points behind runaway leaders PSV. Football Insider reports that Liverpool will pay in the region of $12.5m (£10m/€11m) to bring Slot to Anfield ahead of next season.

Liverpool.com says: If Amorim was too wedded to a 3-4-3 system and wasn't willing to change, then it makes sense for the club to pivot to other targets. Liverpool has a squad built for a 4-3-3, so it makes sense to hire a coach who plays in the same way and could maximize the talent already in the squad, and with Liverpool going so close in the title race this season, the nucleus of a very good team is already there. The decision to move on from Amorim does hint that the Reds will take on a similar look under Slot, and that will no doubt shape the summer's transfer activity.