Arne Slot ‘blocked from Tottenham job’ as story behind Feyenoord U-turn emerges

Arne Slot was blocked from taking the Tottenham job, it has been claimed. The Dutchman released a statement on Thursday confirming he would be staying at Feyenoord and new information as to why has emerged.

Slot became the leading candidate to become the next Tottenham boss earlier this week. Some reports even claimed he had given a verbal green light to the north London club.

However, a statement from the 44-year-old claimed that there had been no discussions with other clubs and he is happy to stay at Feyenoord. But Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan has now revealed more on the saga.

He claims there were talks between Slot’s agent Rafaela Pimenta and Tottenham and he was happy to make the move. However, Slot’s buyout clause of around £6million does not become active until 2024.

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And it has been said Feyenoord increased what they wanted to release Slot to around £17.3m (€20m) which ultimately prevented a deal from happening. Van der Kraan told talkSPORT: “It looked all week like he would join Tottenham Hotspur. He was the number one candidate after Xabi Alonso said he wasn’t coming.

“His agent Rafaela Pimenta was in talks with Tottenham and she made it clear he was happy to come. Feyenoord said he was the most popular, best manager we’ve ever had.

“He’s brought us to the Champions League, we want to keep him and if Tottenham want him they will have to go up to £20million. With that in the back of his mind it was becoming a very difficult situation for the manager.

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“Also, they [Feyenoord] offered him a brand new contract with huge wages. Late last night, the manager decided well, if I can’t get out, I’ll sign a new contract here.”

Van der Kraan says there is no doubt that Slot wanted the Tottenham job. Only a major U-turn from Feyenoord has prevented it from happening.

He added: “Absolutely, he was really keen on moving. He had given his word to Pimenta to start negotiations to speak to Spurs. He was really enthusiastic about the Premier League, he made that clear.

“This is why it’s a massive turnaround that both parties, Feyenoord and Slot, agreed to sign a new contract and not to go to Spurs. I think deep down in his heart, that’s where he wanted to go [Spurs].”

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