IT’S SLOTTING INTO PLACE

V New Reds boss Arne has thrashed out his deal... but an extra £2m bill for his backroom team is proving an issue

ARNE SLOT has revealed that an agreement to become Liverpool’s new boss is almost complete – despite problems bringing his backroom team with him from Feyenoord.

Slot will sign a deal to succeed Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season after a series of positive meetings with new Kop kingmaker Michael Edwards.

But the Dutchman has admitted there are still some details to be ironed out – and his plan to bring assistant Sipke Hulshoff, second assistant Etienne Reijnen and head of performance Ruben Peeters is also being held up.

Liverpool have agreed to pay Feyenoord £11million compensation for Slot – but have been told they will have to cough up another £2m for his trusted team.

Hulshoff’s position is complicated further by the fact that he is going to the Euros as assistant to Holland boss Ronald Koeman this summer – and Liverpool want him to start his contract on July 1 before the tournament has ended.

Slot, 45, insisted he is Anfieldbound, and said: “I can’t reveal the details right now, but it is not about my contract.

“There are a combination of factors which is the cause why there is no announcement yet. But don’t worry. It will happen. I know I have been saying this every time over the past week, but I do expect that it really is a matter of days now.”

Slot is also in the hunt for a new goalkeeping coach after long-serving John Achterberg decided to take up an offer to work with former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard at Saudi Pro League club Al-ettifaq.

Liverpool face top-four chasing Aston Villa tomorrow night before bringing the curtain down on Klopp’s reign against Wolves at an emotional Anfield on Sunday.

The German is looking for a positive end to his tenure after seeing Liverpool’s bid for a quadruple crumble in the weeks since they were knocked out of the FA Cup at Manchester United.

Unai Emery’s side will provide a stern test.

Klopp said: “We have the chance to go above 80 points again. You should never take things like that for granted.

“Villa will want to have a good last home game because they have played an incredible season. They are likely to qualify for the Champions League.

“Unai is doing an incredible job but we will definitely give it a try.

“He always organises his team extremely well – and we all know how important it can be for a club to qualify for the Champions League.”

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TEAM ARNE Slot with his assistants Hulshoff (centre) and John de Wolf LIKELY TEAMS ASTON VILLA: Konsa, Diego Martinez; Cash, Mcginn, Carlos, Digne; Bailey, Douglas Luiz; Watkins Tielemans, Diaby; LIVERPOOL: Alexander-arnold, Alisson; Dijk, Quansah, Van Endo, Robertson; Elliott, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz WINNING DUTCH Arne Slot insists he is coming to Anfield

ASTON VILLA are tracking Besiktas’ Albanian international forward Ernest Muci ahead of the summer transfer window. The 23-year-old attacker is a player Unai Emery’s side know well after he scored three times in two matches against the Villans in the UEFA Conference League group stages with Legia Warsaw. Yet he has since moved to Turkey with Besiktas, who paid a clubrecord £8.6million fee to sign the player in January. Legia also have a 10 percent sell-on clause – but Villa are now weighing up a swoop of their own as £16m-rated Muci has hit the ground running in Istanbul.