Feyenoord director Dennis te Kloese admits that Arne Slot ‘talked to’ Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea before signing a new contract with the Eredivisie champions.
Though suggesting that the 44-year-old Dutchman ‘used’ Spurs in order to negotiate himself an improved deal at De Kuip are probably missing the point.
Arne Slot, after all, did have a very real interest in taking over from Antonio Conte. Tottenham may have endured a miserable campaign but, like Erik ten Hag when leaving Ajax for a Manchester United side in crisis, the Premier League is still a big step up from the relatively small pond that is Dutch football.
In the end, it was the prospect of Champions League football at Feyenoord which convinced Slot to put pen to paper on a deal until the summer of 2026; Tottenham’s eighth-place finish meaning not even Conference League football is on it’s way to North London.
As far as the former AZ Alkmaar boss is concerned, there are still a few chapters remaining in his Rotterdam success story.
Tottenham’s Arne Slot talks collapse
“Whether Slot talked to Spurs and Chelsea? Yes (he did),” Te Kloese tells NOS. “And he should not underestimate himself, because there were more clubs interested in him.”
“We have been talking to each other from April to express respect for each other. Whatever happens, we want to continue together,” the director adds.
“We have a good feeling about the club. We also have a good feeling about how the club presents itself to supporters and sponsors. Slot contributed to this to a large extent, and we also wanted to continue (with him).
“That has all been discussed since April.”
After talks with Slot went the same way as Julian Nagelsmann and co, Tottenham appear to be closing in on the appointment of another manager who claimed a domestic title in 2022/23.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, per The Sun, could be unveiled as early as next week.
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