Arne Slot has revealed that his Liverpool move now hinges on ‘hard bargaining’ between the Reds and current club Feyenoord.
The Dutchman has emerged as the favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. Klopp announced he would be departing at the end of the season in January.
Slot - currently with Eredivisie giants Feyenoord - has confirmed he is keen to take the reins. However, it is now down to the two clubs to agree on the move.
It was previously reported that the Reds would have to pay around £8.59million for Slot’s services. The 45-year-old currently has two years left to run on his contract in Rotterdam.
It has not been confirmed whether Liverpool have agreed to pay that fee yet. However, Slot has confirmed that the two clubs have entered into discussions - and it is now down to them to come to an agreement.
He said: "I have the impression that a good offer has already been made. And it seems that Feyenoord is already going to make the highest-paid Dutch transfer fee for a coach.
"And somewhere I still have a bit of the idea that I have performed so well in recent years, earned so much money, that Feyenoord is thinking along those lines. Although thinking along might not be the right word when you hear the amounts involved."
Slot added: "I don't think "wish" is the right word when you know the amounts involved. Wishing is when you have a clause in your contract, and that's the maximum they're willing to pay.
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“Then you can talk about wishing. Now it's just hard bargaining, which is everyone's right. But I absolutely believe they will reach an agreement."
Should Liverpool find an agreement with Feyenoord, their long - and often frustrating - search for a new manager would finally come to an end. Former midfielder Xabi Alonso had initially emerged as the favourite for the job.
However, he then confirmed his intent to stay with newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim then emerged as a viable candidate.
The Portuguese coach’s discussions with West Ham put a move on the back-burner. Amorim now seems highly unlikely to be moving to the Premier League in any capacity after talks with the Hammers stuttered.
Having now settled on Slot, Liverpool will be doing all they can to attempt to tempt him to the Premier League at the second time of asking. He was previously targeted by Tottenham, only for the North London side to opt for current boss Ange Postecolgou instead.
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