Barcelona add Arne Slot to five-man managerial shortlist - report

Barcelona are admirers of Feyenoord manager Arne Slot and are considering him as an outside candidate to fill their head coach vacancy, reports in Spain claim.

Xavi announced midway through the 2023/24 season that he would be standing down in the summer and the club are now busy trying to find a replacement.

SPORT report that German trio Hansi Flick, Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann, plus Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi, will all be discussed internally at Barca.

One other candidate who Barcelona are keeping an eye on is Slot, who has worked wonders at Feyenoord since taking over in 2021.

He led the Rotterdam giants to the inaugural Europa Conference League final during his first season in charge, only losing out to Jose Mourinho's Roma. In his second season, Slot guided Feyenoord to their first Dutch Eredivisie title in six years.

SPORT note that Barcelona are particularly fond of Slot's attacking philosophy, though he is not considered a priority target at this stage and remains further down their shortlist. Slot has already publicly revealed a desire to manage Barca at some point in his career.

Last summer, Slot turned down the chance to join Tottenham Hotspur, instead penning a new contract with Feyenoord following their Eredivisie triumph. Spurs later turned to Celtic's Ange Postecoglou.

Feyenoord currently sit ten points behind unbeaten league leaders PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie standings this season and missed the chance to close that gap with a 2-2 draw at the Philips Stadion on Sunday. They are also out of European competition having finished third in their Champions League group to Atletico Madrid and Lazio before being defeated by Roma for a third season running in the knockout round playoffs of the Europa League.

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