Liverpool are looking to follow a similar approach to Manchester United after opening negotiations with Feyenoord boss Arne Slot about the possibility of replacing Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds will say farewell to the German boss at the end of the season and have taken a huge step in finding Klopp's successor. Xabi Alonso, who was installed as the frontrunner, ruled himself out of the job by deciding that he would stay another season at Bayer Leverkusen.
The likes of Ruben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi have also been mooted as potential candidates, but The Athletic claim that Slot is the club's preferred option. They add that the Dutchman is 'enthusiastic about a potential move' though there are still other targets on Liverpool's list.
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If the Reds do choose to appoint Slot, comparisons will naturally be drawn following United's decision to poach Erik ten Hag from the Eredivisie in 2022. The Red Devils boss joined from Ajax.
However, European football expert Andy Brassell has shut down any comparisons. He told Sky Sports: "I think if you look at Erik ten Hag, his last six months at Ajax, something never really talked about, is Ajax had a ton of defensive problems.
"Even when ten Hag was doing pretty well with Manchester United last year, in some of the defeats they really bottomed out, particularly defensively, so it suggests those issues are something he hasn't really worked on.
"Whereas Feyenoord, have pretty much the best defensive record in the Eredivisie and they have done over the last two seasons. In terms of those issues, he's not really bringing anything with him."
Slot previously snubbed a move to Tottenham Hotspur and signed a three-year contract extension. The 45-year-old guided Feyenoord to their first title in six years last season.
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