Arne Slot set for awkward Liverpool reunion as ex-Reds manager 'leading candidate' for top European job

Arne Slot has reportedly emerged arsenic the fig 1 contender to instrumentality implicit astatine AC Milan pursuing his departure from Liverpool.

Following a tumultuous 2025-26 run successful which the Reds mislaid 20 matches crossed each competitions, Liverpool sacked Slot arsenic caput coach connected Saturday.

The Dutchman was initially expected to beryllium fixed a accidental to crook things astir successful the 2026-27 season, arsenic the Anfield hierarchy recognised that unforeseen mitigating circumstances had impacted Liverpool's season.

However, pursuing a reappraisal of the club's show successful 2025-26, the owners person decided to spell successful a antithetic direction, and Slot was fto spell with a twelvemonth near to tally connected his contract.

The erstwhile Feyenoord brag is expected to beryllium replaced by ex-Bournemouth caput manager Andoni Iraola, who has been approached by the Liverpool hierarchy and is successful precocious talks implicit a move.

Arne Slot 'leading candidate' for AC Milan aft Liverpool exit

In the meantime, writer Sacha Tavolieri is reporting that Slot is successful the framework to go AC Milan's caller manager, pursuing the exit of Massimiliano Allegri.

Allegri returned to San Siro for a 2nd spell successful complaint of Milan past summer, but the Italian near astatine the extremity of the 2025-26 play aft the Rossoneri failed to suffice for the Champions League.

Milan are thought to person held discussions with USA manager Mauricio Pochettino, who could instrumentality to nine shot aft the World Cup, but Slot is present astatine the apical of the list.

Tavolieri reports that discussions are already underway to bring Slot to San Siro, wherever helium would pb Milan into the 2026-27 Europa League pursuing the Rossoneri's fifth-placed decorativeness successful the Serie A table.

Arne Slot acceptable for contiguous Liverpool reunion astatine AC Milan?

If Slot is instilled arsenic Milan's caller caput coach, the Dutchman could look an contiguous - and somewhat awkward - reunion with 1 of his erstwhile Liverpool players.

The Reds are progressively apt to suffer home-grown midfielder Curtis Jones, who is astir to participate the last twelvemonth of his declaration astatine Anfield and is simply a reported transportation people for Inter Milan.

Liverpool and Inter stay locked successful talks implicit a woody for Jones, who was besides the taxable of Nerazzurri involvement successful the January transportation window, but an statement could not beryllium reached implicit the winter.

However, arsenic the Reds present hazard losing Jones for thing successful 2027, a summertime merchantability is nether consideration, meaning that the Englishman could enactment up connected the other extremity to Slot successful aboriginal Milan derbies.

Jones made 49 appearances for Liverpool successful the 2025-26 season, but helium started conscionable 22 matches crossed the Premier League and Champions League combined.