Next Liverpool manager: Arne Slot one step closer after big hurdle cleared

Liverpool have been handed a major breakthrough in their efforts to appoint Arne Slot as the successor to Jurgen Klopp. 

Slot, 45, is widely expected to succeed the German, who is departing his role as Liverpool manager at the end of the season. 

The Dutchman is coming on board as head coach rather than manager and the current Feyenoord boss is looking to appoint some members of his current backroom team. 

Sipke Hulshoff, Feyenoord’s assistant manager, is one of those individuals who will move to Anfield alongside Slot. 

Fans might well have been wondering over the past few weeks why neither Liverpool nor Feyenoord were making any official announcement regarding the impending coaching transfer with it widely known since last month that a compensation deal had been worked out between the clubs. 

However, it was believed a current contractual obligation on the part of Hulshoff was holding up the deal. 

In addition to coaching Feyenoord, Hulshoff has also been working as assistant to Ronald Koeman, manager of the Dutch national team. 

With the Oranje heading to the European Championship this summer, Hulshoff would be unavailable to take up his Liverpool duties until after the Netherlands’ participation in the showpiece event was at an end. 

It has previously been reported that the Reds want Slot - and his team - in place by July 1 and matters took a significant step forward on Tuesday morning. 

The Dutch football association (KNVB) has confirmed that Hulshoff has RESIGNED his place on the Holland bench, meaning he is immediately freed up from his Euro 2024 duties. 

In his place comes veteran trainer Dwight Lodeweges, the 66-year-old coming back for another stint in the national team backroom under former Everton coach Koeman. 

If Hulshoff’s situation was the reason the deal regarding Slot and Liverpool was being held up, well things have moved forward decisively today.