Liverpool have communicated their intention to make an improved offer to Feyenoord for Arne Slot as they close in on appointing their new head coach.
The Dutch club are ready to conclude a deal for their manager to replace Jurgen Klopp by the end of the weekend with advanced talks continuing between the two clubs on Friday night.
The Anfield side have already rejected one compensation package for Slot, believed to be in the region of £7.5million, but Liverpool have told Feyenoord they will return with a renewed offer.
Feyenoord want a minimum of £8.6million in compensation to release Slot from his contract but the overall package will likely surpass that sum with Slot keen to bring a number of his current backroom team with him to Merseyside
Slot’s No 2 Sipke Hulshof looks certain to arrive, while head of performance Ruben Peeters and analyst Etienne Reijnen are among the staff their current boss is considering bringing with him.
However, Feyenoord do no want Slot to wipe out their entire backroom team when he moves to the Premier League and will stand firm on any attempt from Slot and Liverpool to bring multiple members of staff from the Dutch club to Merseyside.
While, crucially, Feyenoord are prepared to let their manager join Liverpool their chief executive Dennis the Kloese, described as a tough negotiator, wants to ensure his side are suitably recompensed and is not prepared to be sold short.
Indeed, sources close to Feyenoord believe the total compensation package for Liverpool to appoint Slot, and staff, could go over £13million.
Nevertheless, the expectancy at the Dutch club is that discussions will reach a positive conclusion after the Dutchman publicly admitted his desire to join Liverpool on Thursday night.
Despite speculation surrounding Slot's future, his side still managed to secure a 3-1 win over Go Ahead Eagles.
A Jeffrey de Lange own goal put them ahead before Luka Ivanusec made it two. Oliver Edvardsen made it two before Ayase Ueda restored their two goal lead.
After the game, Slot reiterated his desire to join Liverpool and said it would be 'crazy' if he didn't consider their interest.
‘I'm having a great time at Feyenoord, but if there's a club like Liverpool it would be crazy if you didn't find that a great next step in your career. The clubs are in talks and I'm waiting for that. That was me before the game and I still am two hours later.’
Mail Sport reported on Tuesday how Slot had emerged as Liverpool’s preferred candidate to take over from Jurgen Klopp, who has four games left at the club.
Slot, who was considered by both Tottenham and Chelsea last summer, has found immense success since joining the Dutch side in 2021 and has become one of the most progressive coaches in European football.
He recently guided his side Feyenoord to victory in the KNVB Cup; the second trophy he has won in charge of the Rotterdam giants, having made them domestic champions 12 months ago.
His accolades at the Dutch side have made him an ideal candidate to succeed Klopp at Anfield and the Reds have now stepped up their pursuit of the 45-year-old.
Klopp announced in late January he would leave the club after nearly nine years at the helm and he now has just five matches remaining on Merseyside, including Wednesday's trip across Stanley Park to Everton and Goodison Park.
Initial reports suggested that the Reds were considering a move for Xabi Alonso, who has done such outstanding work with Bayer Leverkusen.
But Alonso wanted to stay in Germany and that led to Ruben Amorim assuming bookmakers favouritism.
The Portuguese, who has £12million release clause in his contract, spoke recently about not being able to give Sporting Lisbon any guarantees on his future.
Liverpool had given him firm consideration, as they have done with Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, but they are now prepared to move in a different direction from Amorim, who is a target for West Ham United, as Mail Sport reported on Monday.