Liverpool opening offer for Arne Slot rejected by Feyenoord

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Liverpool have had an opening offer for Arne Slot rejected after making the Feyenoord head coach their preferred choice to succeed Jurgen Klopp.

The Anfield club’s pursuit of Slot did not emerge until earlier this week as they prioritised discretion and a desire to show Feyenoord respect before Sunday’s Dutch Cup final, which they won.

That approach is sure to be maintained as Liverpool enter negotiations with the 2023 Eredivisie champions and their highly-regarded CEO Dennis te Kloese with the club knocking back an opening offer of €9million (£7.7m, $9.6m).

Liverpool are also in contact with Slot, who is enthusiastic about the possibility of moving to Merseyside.

The club are conducting a thorough process and will continue to assess other candidates, although Slot is the focus of their attention at present having emerged as the leading contender.

Klopp announced in January he would be leaving the club at the end of the season after nine years.

Slot helped guide Feyenoord to just a second Eredivisie title in 20 years last season and has the side second in the table at present.

Liverpool started the head coach search back in November with Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football Michael Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes now leading the process.

Slot’s attacking style of play and track record of developing young talent match the criteria set out by the club with Xabi Alonso of Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim among those also considered.

Slot, who turned down Tottenham Hotspur last year, has no release clause in his current contract that runs until 2026.

(Maurice Van Steen/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

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