A move to Brighton and Hove Albion ‘makes much more sense’ than Liverpool for Feyenoord’s Eredivisie-winning manager Arne Slot as the Premier League giants prepare to move on from Jurgen Klopp.
That is according to Robert Maaskant, the former Groningen, NAC Breda and Go Ahead Eagles coach speaking out as arguably the most coveted head coach to emerge in Dutch football since Erik ten Hag prepares for another summer of heavy speculation.
Arne Slot, who rebuffed the advances of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea after guiding Feyenoord to their first league title in six years, has been mentioned in some quarters as a potential Jurgen Klopp replacement at Anfield.
But Maaskant feels that Slot would benefit from a move to – with all due respect to Brighton – something of a ‘stepping stone’ club, The Seagulls proving themselves to be an excellent landing spot for those looking to climb the footballing ladder.
Arne Slot tipped to replace Roberto de Zerbi at Brighton
“I don’t think it is realistic to talk about the absolute top of the world,” Maaskant tells RTV Rijnmond.
“I think a club like Brighton makes much more sense (than Liverpool). Slot has indeed done very well with Feyenoord. He reached a European final (losing to Roma in the inaugral Conference League decider).
“But top international clubs mainly look at whether you have won finals.”
That is not necessarily the case with Liverpool, however.
HITC Football understands that Xabi Alonso is the current favourite to inherit the keys to Klopp’s kingdom. While Bayer Leverkusen look destined to end Bayern Munich’s stranglehold over the Bundesliga trophy, as things stand 41-year-old Alonso is in his first ever senior coaching role and is yet to get his hands on silverware.
Liverpool preparing for Jurgen Klopp farewell
Liverpool, HITC have been told, are also considering the man Maaskant is tipping Slot to replace at The Amex. Roberto de Zerbi has only picked up two trophies in his career – the Ukrainian Cup with Shakhtar Donetsk and a lower-league trophy with Foggia in Italy’s third tier – but has earned himself plenty of admirers at Anfield with his attractive, high-tempo football and his remarkable ability to turn good players in to great ones.
Two attributes with earned Jurgen Klopp a shot at one of Europe’s top jobs back in 2015.
Liverpool, meanwhile, confirmed the return of Michael Edwards as their new CEO of Football on Tuesday. Edwards, the brains behind the successful Klopp era, will play a major role in hiring the German’s replacement.
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