Arne Slot has been warned he will be following ‘Jesus’ at Liverpool should he succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
That’s at least according to journalist Rene van der Gijp, who believes there is a mass exodus on the cards before Slot arrives at Liverpool.
Slot is the current frontrunner to replace Klopp after Liverpool made their move for him this week, submitting a first offer to Feyenoord to get him out of his contract.
That initial bid was rejected but the belief is that an agreement will be struck at some point, particularly as Slot has made it clear he wants to move to Merseyside this summer.
He appears undaunted by the task of succeeding Klopp, who has decided to walk away from Anfield a year before his contract ends after admitting he’s grown tired with the role.
His departure appears to be the first step in a major overhaul of operations at Anfield, with Rob Edwards returning, albeit as head of football operations for FSG, and Richard Hughes the new sporting director.
They’ve been brought in to manage life after Klopp and Van der Gijp, in typical Dutch media style (entertaining and to the point) believes that could mean a whole host of departures from Liverpool.
“Pep Guardiola, he took over from Jupp Heynckes, who won the treble: European Cup, cup, champion,” he said.
“Pep didn’t bite himself to pieces, but everyone else who came after a trainer who had been promoted to Jesus, bit himself to bits. Klopp, Guardiola, José Mourinho in his prime, Sir Alex Ferguson. And in miniature: Foppe de Haan.”
Johan Derksen did not agree. “Slot has surpassed Dick Advocaat, right? He was trainer of Feyenoord, Slot came and showed that things can be better in a different way.
“That’s right, but Klopp has now been at Liverpool for nine years,” responded Van der Gijp.
“He has his own café, the Klopp café, that’s Jesus right there. And everyone is leaving: Salah is leaving, Van Dijk is leaving, I am 100% convinced of that.”
