Arne Slot in line for surprise new job after Eddie Howe’s Newcastle exit

Arne Slot is a candidate to replace Matthias Jaissle as Al Ahli manager, talkSPORT understands.

Jaissle is set to take over as Newcastle boss, with Eddie Howe leaving the club after five years in charge.

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The German headed to Saudi Arabia in 2023 to take over Al Ahli, leaving his role with Red Bull Salzburg for the Middle East.

During his three years in the job, he has won 92 of his 138 games, winning back-to-back Asian Champions League titles.

But he’s now heading for the Premier League to replace Howe, which leaves the Al Ahli hotseat vacant.

And that could end up being filled by former Liverpool boss Slot.

Slotting in?

Slot was sacked by the Reds in May after just over two seasons in charge of the club, winning the top-flight title in 2025.

Since then, he hasn’t taken on another role, despite being approached by Fulham to become their manager.

He rejected that offer, with the Cottagers then going on to appoint ex-Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa.

The Dutchman was also linked with the AC Milan job before they appointed Ruben Amorim, while he was tipped to potentially become the next Netherlands boss too.

However, he remains a free agent and he is now on the radar of Al Ahli now that Jaissle is on his way to Newcastle.

Slot is one of multiple contenders for the job, including someone he has come up against before in the Premier League…

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Vying for Vitor

As well as being interested in Slot, Al Ahli also appreciate former Wolves and Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira.

No approach has been made yet, but Pereira is an option.

He has had three different roles over the last two years, becoming Wolves boss in 2024 after leaving Al Shabab.

The 58-year-old has experience in Saudi Arabia, as he spent 10 months in the Saudi Pro League with Al Shabab, while he also previously managed Al Ahli in 2013.

Pereira was sacked by Wolves in November 2025 after losing eight of the first 10 games of last season.

Just four months later, he was then named Nottingham Forest manager, but that stint only lasted a short period.

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Pereira was blindsided, as he was dismissed by Forest at the start of July, despite achieving Premier League safety and reaching the Europa League semi-finals last term.

Now, he has Al Ahli interested and that could end up seeing him return to Saudi Arabia for a third spell in the Middle East.