There is set to be plenty of change at Liverpool ahead of next season as the Reds get to work in the transfer market.
After staying quiet in 2024, things have been the polar opposite this year, with three new players already in the bag.
Having had a year to assess the Liverpool squad, head coach Arne Slot has decided upon what he needs to ensure the Reds go for the Premier League title once again.
Unfortunately for Slot, though, he has also had to contend with some key personnel leaving. The Dutchman was powerless to prevent Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid, while he also lost an important member of the Liverpool coaching staff as John Heitinga joined Ajax.
Liverpool have replaced Alexander-Arnold with Jeremie Frimpong, however, while Heitinga’s replacement will reportedly be former Feyenoord, Rangers and Besiktas manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Things have gone a little quiet on Van Bronckhorst after initial reports about his imminent arrival two weeks ago. Thankfully, journalist David Lynch says everything is still on track.
Besiktas manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst conducts a press conference ahead of the UEFA Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv
Photo by Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images
Giovanni van Bronckhorst start date set
On the face of it, Van Bronckhorst looks like a really good appointment for Liverpool. Experienced at the top of the game as a player, the Dutchman is also a title-winning manager. He ticks all the boxes.
And speaking to Anfield Index, Lynch praised Liverpool’s hiring of Van Bronckhorst, while also confirming that the 50-year-old is expected to start work on the first day of pre-season.
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“I don’t think there’s much more to run on this story other than he’s just going to turn up for the first day of pre-season really,” said the reporter. “Reading between the lines, I think that one’s pretty much done.
“I don’t think there’s going to be an announcement, they’re not going to be flying him in to do an interview and he certainly doesn’t need a medical!”
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“He will be part of the coaching staff, or at least that’s my expectation, on the first day of pre-season,” Lynch adds. “You have to say on this one, a bit of a surprise to be honest. I thought there were a couple of other names who might be in the frame who were more kind of assistant coaches.”
“But they’ve managed to get someone who’s been a manager very recently and done a good job in that. Someone who’s stepping down to come into this role in terms of his responsibilities. So, it feels like a big coup to be honest and not a name who was on my radar to think might be a possibility for this role.
“It seems like a really good appointment and a strong response to losing Johnny Heitinga who was a highly rated member of that coaching staff. But I don’t think we’ll be seeing much from him until pre-season starts.”
When does Liverpool’s pre-season start?
If Van Bronckhorst is due to start on the first day of pre-season, then it may beg the question for some supporters of when the first day of training of will actually arrive.
As things stand, Liverpool players and coaches are due to return to base on Tuesday July 8th, before taking part in their first pre-season friendly on Sunday July 13th.
The Reds will then fly out to Hong Kong for a match against AC Milan on July 26th, and then to Japan to face Yokohama F. Marinos on July 30th.
Liverpool’s pre-season calendar then concludes with back-to-back matches against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on August 4th.
There will be more exciting additions than Van Bronckhorst, but his arrival should not be overlooked nonetheless.