Incoming Liverpool boss Arne Slot says he would like to speak to the man he will replace at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp, for advice when it is officially confirmed he will take the job.
The Feyenoord manager has struck an agreement to succeed Klopp as the Reds’ head coach from the start of next season, with only formalities and an official announcement standing in the way of a deal being done.
Klopp, who will leave Liverpool after nine glory-packed years this month, said on Friday that he is happy to speak to his successor but only Slot felt comfortable in doing so.
And Slot says it is normal for this unofficial handover to take place. ‘I think it’s normal that if you go to a new club that you contact the current coach,’ said the 45-year-old after Feyenoord’s 5-0 win over PEC Zwolle at De Kuip last night.
‘I did this at Feyenoord as well. It’s normal, all the knowledge a person has from working a few years at the club or nine in this case, that you contact him. But apart from that I know his assistant quite well, Pep Lijnders. If there is an official confirmation, it would be strange if I did not call him.’
Slot tuned in to the opening stages of Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Tottenham but had to turn off to focus on Feyenoord’s game. ‘I saw a few minutes of the game but then we had to come to the stadium,’ he added.
‘It was not broadcasted over here. I didn’t see a lot, I saw the first goal, which was a great goal. It was a good win for Liverpool. If the official confirmation is there and I (become) 100 per cent that I will go there, I will not only watch this game but a lot of games.’
The Dutchman embraced the fans at De Kuip on a day that, like Klopp, saw his penultimate home game.
Asked if it was a goodbye — noting that parts of the stadium will be closed for the final match — he said: ‘I think I agree it looked like that. But it is also because of what we achieved in the last three seasons.
‘But because of all the rumours in the media, they are expecting me to leave - that is something we could say.’