Feyenoord boss Arne Slot looks set to join Liverpool this summer — but why did the Reds choose him over Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim?
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Klopp to depart this summer
Slot compensation fee agreed
Amorim linked with West Ham jobWHAT HAPPENED?
Earlier this month, the Sporting CP boss — who guided the club to the 2020-21 Portuguese title and is set to do the same this season — was the frontrunner for the job. However, Amorim's attempts to pressure Liverpool into making an offer by meeting with West Ham backfired. The Reds reportedly lost interest, and now Slot looks set to become Liverpool manager.
AdvertisementGettyTHE EXPLANATION
According to , Feyenoord rejected Liverpool's opening offer of compensation for their head coach, but a deal has now been reached. The Reds will pay his current club a compensation fee of €9 million plus €2m in add-ons (£9.4m/$11.8m), making him the third-most expensive manager in Premier League history. Slot's philosophy and style of play is thought to have swung it for the Liverpool hierarchy, with Amorim's long-term vision and back-three system less of a strong fit for the club. His negotiations with West Ham also seem to have worked against him, with Slot's desire to move to the Merseyside club unwavering.
WHAT SLOT SAID
The incoming Reds boss seems confident that a deal will be struck very soon. He said on Thursday: "Everybody understands Feyenoord will want to receive as much money as they can get, but I get the feeling that they will not begrudge me this move."
Getty WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?
While the managerial negotiations go on behind the scenes, there's still a slim chance that Liverpool's current manager could bow out with a league title win. The Reds' loss in the Merseyside derby made it look like a huge mountain to climb, but they'll need to push Manchester City and Arsenal as much as possible regardless, starting off with a Saturday lunchtime trip to West Ham – the club rumoured to be wooing their former candidate Amorim.