Arne Slot's position at Liverpool has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, with the club falling short in the Premier League title race and now left battling to secure Champions League qualification
Liverpool are reportedly working closely with Arne Slot to identify summer transfer targets, despite growing uncertainty surrounding the Dutch head coach’s long‑term future at the club. Slot enjoyed a dream debut season at Anfield, guiding the Reds to the Premier League title at the first attempt.
This campaign, however, has been far more challenging, with Liverpool now fighting just to secure Champions League qualification after falling out of the title race. Even so, the Daily Mail report that Slot's job is not currently under threat, with the club said to be 'shortening long lists of summer transfer targets' and 'sounding out' representatives, work that is being carried out in 'consultation' with Slot.
That said, circumstances can shift quickly, and it is noted that his position would come under serious threat if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League. Questions have already been raised throughout the season, and Slot is well aware that failing to qualify for the competition could prove costly.
Slot was asked whether that issue might influence the board’s decision, and he replied: "That is a difficult question for me to answer because I don't decide on my future. The only thing I do know is that it happened before and recently and it didn’t affect the future of that manager.
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"But that doesn't guarantee anything, of course. In general, managers, especially at this club - maybe somewhere else - it is not only about results.
"Mainly, but not only. At some clubs they also look at the progress the players make, the progress the team makes, the circumstances are sometimes taken into account.
"That is not at all clubs, but I think I am working at a club that does look at those things, as it has shown in the past when the club did not qualify for the Champions League."
Former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso is a name that has frequently surfaced amid the growing pressure on Slot. The Spaniard has been out of a job since leaving Real Madrid in January where he was in charge for eight months.
A return to Anfield has been touted, though this time it would be for Alonso to take charge from the dugout. The Mail suggest there is a growing belief within the industry that Alonso is 'attainable' this summer, but clubs risk missing out if they don't move quickly.
Even so, Slot is being backed 'for now at least', though the club's hierarchy will be fully aware that Alonso is likely to be snapped up in the coming months.