"I am confident" - Arne Slot confirms desire to take Liverpool job

The 45-year-old has this week emerged as the front-runner to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, with the long-serving German set to step down at the end of this season after nine years in charge.

Liverpool had previously been credited with serious interest in Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim, amongst others, but they have now identified Slot as their top target to lead their new era.

Reports suggested that the Merseysiders officially opened talks with Feyenoord on Wednesday, but that the Dutch club rejected their initial approach.

Negotiations have progressed over the past day, though, and Slot is now "confident" that they can come to terms over an agreement.

Arne Slot confirms desire to take over at Liverpool

Slot has earned a name for himself in his native Netherlands throughout his managerial career so far, impressing during time in charge of Cambuur, AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord.

The former midfielder has never coached or played for a club outside Netherlands, but he has now confirmed that talks are underway with Liverpool, and that he wants to take over at Anfield.

"I'd like to become new Liverpool manager, my decisions is clear," Slot told ESPN ahead of his side's match against Go Ahead Eagles on Thursday.

"Feyenoord and Liverpool are in talks to negotiate, I'm waiting to see what will come out of it. I am confident, waiting for the clubs to reach an agreement."

Reports have claimed that a deal could be reached between all parties before this weekend, and Slot's public plea to reach an agreement is likely to speed the process up even further.

Highly-regarded in Netherlands, but Liverpool is a huge step up

Slot has carved out a reputation as one of the brightest Dutch managers of his generation, having punched above his weight with underdogs clubs before taking over at Feyenoord.

The Bergentheim-born boss took lower-league Cambuur to the KNVB-Beker semi-finals, and led AZ to a serious Eredivisie title challenge in 2019-20 before the campaign was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In his three seasons at Feyenoord, Slot has led the club to one Eredivisie title and a KNVB-Beker triumph, as well as reaching the inaugural final of the Europa Conference League.

While he leaves a legacy of success everywhere he has been so far, and boasts a playing style similar to the one that has brought Liverpool such joy under Klopp, there is no doubt that the move to Merseyside represents a massive step up.

Playing recruits have a notoriously hit-and-miss record when arriving to the Premier League from the Eredivisie, while a number of managers have also struggled to replicate Dutch success in the English top flight.

Slot has won the Rinus Michels Award for the best coach in Netherlands for the past two seasons, but that award has also been won by the likes of Louis van Gaal, Ronald Koeman, Frank De Boer, Phillip Cocu and Erik ten Hag - all of whom found things significantly more difficult in the Premier League.

Liverpool are not the first English team to have moved for Slot in the past, though, with Tottenham Hotspur having pursued him last summer before appointing Ange Postecoglou.