Tottenham target Arne Slot has committed to staying at Feyenoord for another season.

The Dutchman had reportedly become a leading contender to replace Antonio Conte at Spurs following a fine campaign where he led the Rotterdam club to the Eredivisie title.

Talks between Slot’s management and Feyenoord took place this week but it has been agreed the 44-year-old will stay at De Kuip.

Slot told AD Sport: “I have heard a lot about the interest of other clubs in me. I am grateful for the appreciation, but my wish is to stay with Feyenoord and continue to build on the foundation that has been laid there over the past two seasons.

“There are no transfer talks going on and there have not been any and yesterday’s discussion was only about a possible extension.

“All conversations with Feyenoord are only focused on that. I look forward to the new season at Feyenoord.”

Slot is the latest manager to be ruled out of the vacant head coach role at Spurs after Xabi Alonso did similar last week when he pledged his future to Bayer Leverkusen despite links to the Premier League club.

Earlier this month ex-Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann was deemed to no longer be viewed a candidate by Tottenham to replace Conte, the PA news agency understands.

Vincent Kompany is another manager linked with the post to have committed his future to his current club after he signed a new five-year deal with Burnley at the beginning of May.

Spurs’ search for a new head coach is now starting to draw parallels with their 2021 hunt for Jose Mourinho’s successor where they needed 72 days before they decided to hire Nuno Espirito Santo, who had been out of work for six weeks.

Friday will mark two months since Conte departed Tottenham and the club appear no closer to his replacement with chairman Daniel Levy seeking to find a new head coach and managing director of football following the resignation of Fabio Paratici last month.

Ajax head coach John Heitinga rued more frustrations in a disappointing season after Feyenoord came from behind to strike a significant Eredivisie title blow.

Arne Slot's side moved six points clear at the Dutch top-flight summit after Lutsharel Geertruida scored an 86th-minute winner in a 3-2 victory over second-placed Ajax on Sunday.

It marked the first time since August 2014 that Ajax lost an Eredivisie game they had led at half-time, after Edson Alvarez and Dusan Tadic goals had sent the hosts in leading 2-1 at the interval.

With only the top two qualifying for the Champions League, Heitinga – in charge until the end of the season following Alfred Schreuder's sacking in January  acknowledged Ajax are struggling with AZ and PSV in hot pursuit.

"Let's be clear: this is not the season Ajax wants it to be," said former defender Heitinga, as quoted by De Telegraaf.

"I have been asked to help this club. When I started we were fifth and then we won seven league games in a row. 

"And we probably would have won here too if [Mohammed] Kudus scored in the final phase. But unfortunately, he didn't. We are really going to do everything we can to finish this season as high as possible."

Stats Perform's predictor, which calculates the probability of a team's league finish based on numerous data, suggests Feyenoord have a 92.6 per cent chance of winning the league after a late win over Ajax.

 

Those title hopes were boosted by Geertruida's header, which was Feyenoord's latest winner in De Klassieker since November 1969 when Theo van Duivenbode scored in the 87th minute.

Feyenoord coach Slot said his side can dare to dream of a first championship since 2017 and just a second this century.

"We are in very good shape," he said. "I dare say that we are competing for the championship. And that we are in a fantastic position too.

"We had a great victory here. We know how much effort it takes to win every time. There is nothing wrong with that; we like to do that.

"I saw a physical performance today that also appeals to the imagination. If we can keep delivering and no one gets injured, then we are in really good shape."

Slot's men were somewhat fortunate in the first half, though, as Quilindschy Hartman escaped a second caution in quick succession from referee Danny Makkelie.

The defender was promptly removed in the 25th minute for Marcos Lopez, with the game finely poised at 1-1 after Alvarez cancelled out Santiago Gimenez's early opener.

"He got away with it, the referee could have given yellow again," Slot told ESPN. "Although you also have to analyse that first yellow card. Three violations preceded that. 

"Everyone understands that you don't enjoy playing football anymore if you have committed an offence that could have been your second yellow card. 

"Then you can no longer play against Kudus, a man who is so incredibly good in terms of individual class."

Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot hailed the "unreal" clinical display from his side after thumping Shakhtar Donetsk 7-1 in their Europa League last-16 second leg.

Thursday's contest at De Kuip was far less evenly contested than last week's 1-1 draw, with Santiago Gimenez getting the ball rolling for the hosts inside nine minutes.

Orkun Kokcu scored twice before half-time and Oussama Idrissi likewise after the restart, before Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Danilo completed the rout by the 66th minute.

Kevin Kelsy pulled a goal back late on, but it was of no real consolation to the Ukrainian visitors as they bowed out of the competition.

It marks the second-biggest win for a Dutch side in a major European competition at this stage or beyond, after Ajax's 10-0 win over Omonia Nicosia in the 1979-80 European Cup.

Reflecting on a memorable result for his side, Slot said: "It was unreal how we put the match to bed so quickly.

"Normally we need more chances to score, so compliments to my players for being so efficient this evening.

"Shakhtar had a good spell in the first half, and you saw how our players blocked their shots in the box. They were so determined to get a good result."

Feyenoord are now unbeaten in 16 matches this calendar year, with their thumping victory against Shakhtar coming three days before facing fierce rivals Ajax.

Slot's side are three points better off than Ajax at the summit ahead of Sunday's Eredivisie showdown at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

"Of course this victory helps for the duel with Ajax," Slot said. "This gives a lot of confidence. 

"But I also see that Ajax have regained the level they had at the start of the season. Ajax have a good team again."

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