Arne Slot’s identity as Liverpool’s successor to Jurgen Klopp has been an open secret for a little while now.
With months of mystery following Klopp’s surprise announcement that he’s leaving, Slot quickly emerged as the front-runner in April.
Within days, Liverpool had moved to secure the Feyenoord manager in the Anfield dugout next season. However, three weeks or so on from things being sorted and an official statement is yet to appear from either Feyenoord or the Reds.
For some supporters, this may have been cause for anxiety. There has been a mixed response to Slot being the man chosen to replace Klopp, but there’s also plenty to be excited about. The last thing we need is a final-second change of direction now.
Thankfully, it doesn’t appear as though the delay has any problems attached to it. Instead, journalist Ben Jacobs has explained why Slot officially joining Liverpool is yet to be rubber-stamped.
Why Liverpool haven’t announced Arne Slot
If Slot were a player, there would be rightful worry over why he hasn’t officially signed on the dotted line.
Liverpool fans have been hurt by this kind of thing before. Few will have forgotten the saga involving Nabil Fekir’s phantom signing from Lyon in 2018.
Fekir joining the Reds seemed to be all-but done. The press was full of reports hailing his signature as a key one for Klopp’s evolving Liverpool team. He even did his media duties. However, at the final moment, the plug was pulled.
According to Jacobs though, there’s no danger of a similar fate befalling Slot’s own move. Writing in The Daily Briefing, the journalist says that the Reds are simply waiting for the right timing.
“The Slot deal can now be considered done,” says Jacobs. “But when it’s made public will depend on Liverpool, who have always been conscious not to overshadow Jurgen Klopp’s farewell, with his final game at Anfield against Wolves on Sunday.
“The deal being done and the appointment made public are two separate things, with the latter all about timing. Liverpool have never been in a rush to officially announce Slot. The plan was simply to ensure they had a replacement ready before the end of the season, and that has now been achieved.”
When could Liverpool announce Arne Slot
In our opinion, we’d have expected the announcement to be made before Sunday’s game. With Feyenoord also playing at home on the same day, it would feel like a natural time.
We understand the desire not to overshadow Klopp’s farewell, but in reality it absolutely wouldn’t. Nothing could.
As of Wednesday though, we’re yet to see anything suggesting something is immediately in the pipeline.
It now looks more likely that Liverpool will get everything set in concrete once the dust has settled on Jurgen’s goodbye. Huge figure that he is, that could still go on for several weeks beyond the end of the season.
Reds fans can rest easy though, by the sounds of things it’s only a matter of time. Let’s focus on Jurgen first and then welcome the new man.
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