ARNE SLOT has been backed to lead Liverpool to their 20th league title NEXT season.
Feyenoord manager Slot is set to replace departing Kop boss Jurgen Klopp in the summer.
And Dutch World Cup legend Johnny Rep told SunSport: “Arne has what it takes to fill Klopp’s big boots and it’s possible he’ll win the Premier League in his first year.
“Arne has done great things at Feyenoord, winning both the league and the cup, and I can’t wait to see him do the same in Liverpool.
“He has all the credentials to manage a club as big as Liverpool because he’s simply an excellent coach.”
The Reds have agreed a £9million-plus compensation deal with Feyenoord for Slot, 45, ahead of finalising a personal Anfield contract with him.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Klopp, 56, announced in January he was quitting at the end of this season after nine years.
During that time, the German has won the Champions League, Premier League, Fifa Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, the FA Cup and two League Cups.
Slot snubbed Spurs, hates defending and has a PASS named after him
By Dan King
LIVERPOOL managerial target Arne Slot was a good enough player to have a type of pass named after him.
But it is as a manager that the Feyenoord head coach is really making his mark.
Like another bald Dutchman, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, Slot earned his stripes bossing smaller sides before being given a chance at one of the Netherlands’ big three.
But the question Liverpool are pondering is whether Slot would make a better fist of running one of the biggest clubs in the world than Ten Hag so far has at Old Trafford.
Slot, 45, was certainly easier on the eye as a player than centre back Ten Hag.
“The Arne Slot Ball” was something he perfected as a silky No 10 – a back-to-goal, first-time, 180-degree spin and flick behind the defensive line for a winger to run on to deep in the opposition half.
Click here to read all about the incoming Liverpool boss.
Klopp masterminded the 2020 Prem crown — a 19th top-flight title which leaves them one behind bitter rivals Manchester United’s record of 20.
But Rep, 72, one of the Netherlands’ greats who lifted two European Cups with Ajax and played in both the 1974 and 1978 World Cup finals, insists that Slot can bring “Total Football” to Anfield.
Most read in Football
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Ex-winger Rep, who is Holland’s all-time record scorer at World Cups with seven goals, added: “Arne was influenced by Johan Cruyff’s Total Football and loves to set his teams up on the front foot.
“But even though the offensive side of his game is the one that stands out, his teams are defensively adept, too.
“He will also improve Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch and bring some Feyenoord players with him.”
Lutsharel Geertruida has already hinted he could become Slot’s first Liverpool signing.
Geertruida, 23, posted a picture from the Reds 2-2 draw with West Ham on his social media.
Arne Slot’s record is WORSE than Erik ten Hag’s
ARNE SLOT is set to be tasked with a near-impossible job – replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Should he swap the Eredivisie for the Premier League, Slot will follow in the footsteps of fellow follically-challenged Dutchman Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag left Ajax to become Manchester United manager in 2022.
But he has suffered a nightmare spell at Old Trafford and appears to be a dead-man walking despite making the FA Cup final.
With Slot seemingly destined for Anfield, fans won’t be able to help but compare his record in Holland with Ten Hag’s.
And Reds supporters won’t like what they see.
Click here to see all the stats…
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
