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Arne Slot’s name has continued to be linked to the now vacant Netherlands manager post.
With Ronald Koeman resigning after the Netherlands’ World Cup exit, the KNVB is now looking for a fresh direction ahead of the next cycle, and that search has quickly turned attention toward Slot.
Koeman’s departure was confirmed after Oranje were knocked out by Morocco on penalties, ending his second spell in charge.
It was reported by Sky Germany that Arne Slot has already held preliminary talks for the role this week.
There is, however, a complication that helps explain the hesitation.
Dutch outlet Algemeen Daglbad report that two reasons could mean the Dutch national team don’t move for Arne Slot. One being that they want someone to be there for the long term, and Slot’s head could be turned by club advances.
Secondly, the financials with Liverpool could make it complicated:
“The association would like to find someone who can lead the Orange for a longer period of time. They want to build a team and a culture for the duration of several tournaments. Someone who doesn’t want to leave if an attractive club comes along in the meantime,” reports Maarten Wijffels.
“Then you immediately come to Arne Slot. Excellent coach with a clear style of play, free, someone who can always sound out the federation to hear how he sees his future.
“But Slot (47) is in a phase of his career in which he is always interesting for clubs.”
“The fact that he is now unexpectedly available is something else than that he is inwardly ready to work with players for a longer period of time in a few contact moments a year. Apart from the question of what financial agreements he has made with Liverpool after his dismissal.”
The concerns is hardly theoretical either, with recent reports linking him to AC Milan and stating that he turned down an approach from Fulham as he waits for the right opportunity.
The key question is whether Slot sees the Netherlands job as his next move or whether elite club management still pulls more strongly at this point in time.