After a week of intense speculation, Liverpool have decided to hire Arne Slot from Feyenoord to replace legendary manager Jurgen Klopp at the end of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Fabrizio Romano reports Liverpool and Feyenoord have agreed on appropriate compensation for the managerial switch, and the Reds have also agreed to a contract with Slot.
Liverpool still have plenty to play for in the title race, even after suffering another huge blow in the battle for first by losing 2-0 to derby rivals Everton.
The recent defeats, including a Europa League humiliation to Atalanta, have only served to underscore how much more quality the squad needs in order to truly compete at the elite level in Europe again.
Feyenoord have been sensational under Slot over the past couple of seasons, and they are currently second in the Dutch Eredivisie. They have a ton of young talent Michael Edwards could value highly as part of the next generation of stars at Liverpool.
Here are five players Arne Slot could bring with him from Feyenoord to Liverpool in the summer 2024 transfer window.
ST Santiago Gimenez
Santiago Gimenez is one of the most talented young strikers in European football and is being looked at by other top Premier League clubs, including Champions League contenders Tottenham.
The Mexican international has scored 21 goals in the Dutch Eredivisie this season, averaging 1.4 fouls drawn per game with five assists to show that he is more than just one of the most clinical young strikers on the continent.
Liverpool have a high-priced young striker in Darwin Nunez, but they may lose Diogo Jota this season and don’t have much depth up top besides them.
The Reds could use a better finisher than Nunez, who has come under fire recently and could be valued significantly less by the club after Jurgen Klopp officially leaves.
Arne Slot may prefer Gimenez’s playing style and superior finishing, utilizing attackers like Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Cody Gakpo to create chances for Gimenez to put away.
DM Quinten Timber
Arsenal are very interested in bringing Quinten Timber aboard to join Jurrien Timber, as Quinten can bring some real quality to the midfield in terms of technique and even defensive steel.
One of the most talented players in Dutch football, Timber is averaging 2.1 tackles per game to show that he can be a top ball-winner in the middle of the park.
He’s also one of the most productive players on Feyenoord when it comes to impacting the final score, as he has seven goals and eight assists to his name.
A top creator from deep, the 22-year-old is averaging well over two key passes per game and a healthy 1.3 dribbles completed per match.
Liverpool need more quality in midfield, even after signing Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, and Szoboszlai in the summer. Stefan Bajcetic is still working his way back from injury, Thiago Alcantara’s days at Anfield are over, and Curtis Jones needs more help. He and Mac Allister cannot be the only progressors.
Timber can bring a mix of defensive aptitude and playmaking to the midfield in a double-pivot role, which should be a boon for both Szoboszlai and Gakpo.
DM Mats Wieffer
Mats Wieffer is a true defensive midfielder and one of the best double-pivot DMs in European football. At 24 years old, Wieffer is now a proven commodity – or at least as proven as a Dutch Eredivisie midfielder can seem to a Premier League side.
A trusted starter for Arne Slot who enables the rest of the tactical gameplan to fall into place, Wieffer has been on the radar of several top European clubs since the 2022/23 season.
He has five goals, three assists, 1.3 key passes per game, and 2.5 combined dribbles completed and fouls drawn per match to show that he is an all-around attacking star in the defensive midfielder.
On the other end, Wieffer is a certified elite defensive presence with his reading of the game and leadership, averaging 2.9 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game. He could be the right missing piece for Liverpool to level-up defensively in midfield.
AM Calvin Stengs
Liverpool don’t need to sign a playmaker, but Calvin Stengs is, like Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, a versatile attacking talent and a great footballer who simply produces.
Entering his prime at the age of 25, the Dutch international has been a secret weapon for Arne Slot, scoring 5 goals with 11 assists and averaging a whopping 2.4 key passes per game.
Capable of playing in the attacking midfield or on the right wing, Stengs could be an affordable acquisition for Liverpool, and it is possible Slot prefers him to Gakpo.
RW Yankuba Minteh
If Liverpool want to think about adding a true right winger and someone who could eventually be the heir to Mohamed Salah, then Yankuba Minteh is worth investing in.
The 19-year-old is still a secret in the context of European football but is in the midst of a promising season in the Dutch top flight with 9 goals and 5 assists in just 1,365 league minutes.
Minteh can be an exciting, game-changing dribbler with clear end product. The Gambian international can immediately be a rotational piece and a top backup to Salah, who may be gone to Saudi Arabia in a couple of years. By then, Minteh could be ready to be a top Premier League star in his own right.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He has been an editor for NFL Spin Zone, Daily DDT for pro wrestling, Autzen Zoo covering the Oregon Ducks, Musket Fire covering the New England Patriots, The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Old Juve covering Juventus, Rush The Kop covering Liverpool, and Release The Knappen covering Schalke. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.