Unless anything truly unforeseen happens over the next days and weeks, Arne Slot will be Liverpool’s next manager.
The Reds took their time deciding on the ideal replacement for Jurgen Klopp over the summer. However, once they did make their choice, things have moved quickly.
Pending an official announcement, Slot will be the man to carry on Klopp’s stunning legacy at Anfield. Plans have even reportedly started to be formulated in the transfer market.
Time will tell whether Liverpool’s decision to go a little bold in their appointment will pay off. Slot certainly wasn’t at the top of many people’s lists when Jurgen announced his decision to leave in January.
But, as he always does, Michael Edwards was thorough in his evaluation. And just as we’ve learned more about Ruben Amorim’s botched attempt at joining Liverpool, it’s now emerged that another manager was contacted, too.
Liverpool inquired about Thiago Motta
Since the realisation that Slot is going to become Liverpool manager has taken hold, we’ve become privy to a little more information about the recruitment process.
Amorim did seem likely to be the candidate Edwards and co would go for. But after the Sporting boss tried to put pressure on the Reds by taking an interview with West Ham, it was never going to go well for him.
Another manager reportedly in the running had been Thomas Frank. The Brentford manager was seemingly spoken to by Liverpool decision-makers.
So too, it has been claimed, was Bologna’s Thiago Motta. Motta is one of the most promising young coaches in Europe and was repeatedly said to be on Liverpool’s shortlist.
And according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Reds did ‘inquire’ about the 41-year-old.
“There are several clubs that have inquired from abroad, Manchester United, Liverpool, Porto if Conceicao doesn’t stay,” Di Marzio told Sky Italia via Tutto Juve.
“But among all these teams I think Juventus is the one who has the best chances. Then they will have to find a solution with Allegri, to close the relationship with him in the most serene way.”
Should Liverpool have hired Thiago Motta
This summer could eventually be seen one of two ways by Liverpool fans. It could be looked on as the point where the Reds got their Klopp succession plan absolutely right, or absolutely wrong.
Obviously, we hope it’s the former and Slot proves to be a roaring success at Anfield. But it is quite clearly a gamble from Liverpool.
Part of the gamble could be that in Motta, Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim, the Reds might just have missed out on three of the next superstar coaches.
Motta could quite easily head to Juventus and win it all. Amorim is surely set for a big move soon while maybe there will be a lingering question over whether Liverpool really did all they can to persuade Alonso.
In our opinion, Motta was actually the next best option after Alonso stepped away from the running. Let’s hope hindsight doesn’t prove us right on that one.