Liverpool are in talks with Feyenoord in their bid to appoint Arne Slot as their new manager, the PA news agency understands.
Slot, 45, has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season and the Dutchman is ready to fulfil his dream move to a top Premier League club.
But Feyenoord do not want to lose their manager and will demand significant compensation for the man who guided the Dutch club to their first title in six years last season.
Feyenoord currently sit second in the Eredivisie table and won the Dutch Cup at the weekend, while Slot extended his contract with the Dutch club last summer until 2026.
Liverpool can expect Feyenoord to take a tough stance in the negotiations as Slot wants to take some of his backroom staff with him to Anfield.
It is understood Liverpool consider Slot to fit all the criteria set out in their recruitment process, although they are still looking at other contenders.
It has been reported that Liverpool will have to pay “considerably more than 10 million euros” if they are to land their man.
Michael Edwards, who recently returned to the fold as the chief executive of football for Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group, having previously been the club’s sporting director, and incoming sporting director Richard Hughes have been tasked with the unenviable task of finding Klopp’s replacement.
Having seen one leading candidate in former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso commit himself to Bayer Leverkusen, who he has just led to their first Bundesliga title, others such as Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim – now linked with West Ham – and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi have also been under consideration.
Slot has turned down previous offers to work in the Premier League. He opted not to take on the Leeds job after they sacked Jesse Marsch in February last year.
It has also been reported that he ruled himself out of the running for the vacancy at Tottenham before Ange Postecoglou was appointed last summer.
Despite Slot’s desire to manage in the Premier League, Liverpool could face competition from Bayern Munich and Barcelona as they look to replace departing coaches Thomas Tuchel and Xavi respectively.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld is a former team-mate of Slot at Sparta Rotterdam and remains a close friend.
He told Sky Sports: “People ask me if I knew back then he would be a coach. You could see he was one of those.
“He was already a perfectionist. Only football, football, football and he was always talking about tactics and everything.
“I think it’s a perfect fit for Liverpool and hopefully he will sign.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insists Slot faces a major step up in level if he swaps the Eredivisie for Anfield.
“What I would say is that from Feyenoord to Liverpool is a huge jump. It is. And it shows that at this moment there is probably a dearth of real top managers out there,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“Look at who Liverpool were going for. Initially it was Xabi Alonso but it was only his first full season as a manager.
“There was talk of Ruben Amorim from Sporting Lisbon and he’s 39. Slot looks like he’s the favourite right now. I don’t think it’s like Rafa Benitez coming in, or Jurgen Klopp.
“And Liverpool were in a different space then. Now they’re actually fancying themselves to challenge for the Premier League every season and in next season’s Champions League they’re expected to go to the quarter-finals at least.
“It’s a huge jump but he’s a great coach and has got a great track record at the clubs he’s been at so far. We’ll see.”