Liverpool will likely announce Feyenoord’s Arne Slot as the club’s new coach at the end of the season, and he could bring one of his former players to Anfield.
Although it hasn’t been confirmed, Arne Slot looks more than likely to succeed Jürgen Klopp as Liverpool boss this summer. Everyone is just waiting for the announcement at this point.
Speculation grew quickly last week that Liverpool had identified the Feyenoord coach as the man to replace Klopp at the end of this season. The Dutchman confirmed talks had taken place between Liverpool and Feyenoord and he wanted to leave the Eredivisie side to replace Klopp at Anfield.
Despite no official confirmation on his appointment, speculation has now started as to who Slot’s first signing could be this summer. He might not have the final say over any such transfer business, with Michael Edwards and incoming sporting director Richard Hughes taking the lead under a new sporting structure, but there will still be plenty of intrigue around the player to kick off this new era.
According to the website HITC, Slot could look to his current side Feyenoord, and bring midfielder Mats Wieffer to Merseyside with him. In a recent interview, Wieffer, a Dutch international with nine caps, has been tipped by Slot to become one of the best midfielders in the world.
Speaking to Voetbal International, Slot said of the 24-year-old: “Mats Wieffer has made a mega leap in terms of development. I can enjoy that.
“So big that, if he does that again, he will become the best player in the world. That is, of course, unrealistic for any footballer. But Mats can get even better.”
Wieffer joined Feyenoord from Excelsior in 2022 and has become an instrumental part of the midfield under Slot over the past two years. He’s made 29 league appearances this season, registering five goals and three assists. Wieffer helped Slot deliver a league and cup double last season.
A versatile player, Wieffer can play in various positions in midfield and has been known to drop into defense when needed. The 24-year-old’s contract with Feyenoord has another three years left to run.
Liverpool currently has three Dutchmen in the squad in the shape of Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo. Having the trio at Anfield, in addition to Slot, could entice Wieffer to make the jump to the Premier League come the end of the season.
With Wieffer only 24, his age fits FSG’s profile, and he could probably be signed for a relatively small fee. Feyenoord’s record sale was Orkun Kökçü, who moved to Benfica last summer for $27m (£21m/€25m), while Dirk Kuyt’s move to Liverpool still sits as the club’s third-biggest transfer.
Liverpool.com says: Slot’s favored system is a 4-2-3-1, and Wieffer could sit alongside Alexis Mac Allister at the base of the midfield, with the pair acting as a double pivot for Liverpool’s attacking players. His versatility could also be a huge asset to the squad with Liverpool aiming to compete in four competitions. Moreover, Slot would likely want to sign someone he’s worked with before to get his Liverpool career off the ground. If the fee could be negotiated and kept on the low side, this could be a very shrewd deal for the club.
