Virgil van Dijk endorses Arne Slot as next Liverpool manager

Klopp will stand down as manager of the Reds this summer, and it is understood that Slot has emerged as the club's leading choice to step into the role in the coming months.

Liverpool are now believed to be in direct talks with Feyenoord over the Dutch outfit's manager, with a compensation package of around £9m potentially being agreed between the two clubs.

After Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Everton in the Merseyside derby, which seriously dented Liverpool's Premier League title hopes, Van Dijk was asked about Slot's potential arrival at Anfield.

The centre-back said that the 45-year-old's «philosophy» would make him a good fit for the club.

«I find it hard to answer of course, but I think Arne Slot is perhaps one of the better Dutch coaches at this moment,» Van Dijk told Viaplay.

«I think the way of playing and the philosophy he has, that he could be a Liverpool coach. Only I think from what I read and hear is that it's still far from being completed. We shall see.»

Sporting Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim had seemingly been the favourite to replace Klopp, but Slot now appears to be in the driving seat when it comes to the managerial role at Anfield.

Liverpool won the EFL Cup earlier this season, but they were knocked out of the FA Cup and Europa League by Manchester United and Atalanta BC respectively, while they have lost two of their last three league games.

The Reds remain second in the table, but they are three points behind leaders Arsenal and just one ahead of third-placed Manchester City,