Premier League champions Liverpool might have already made moves in the transfer market this summer, but Arne Slot is now preparing for a key man to depart as well. The Reds are already building for their title defence this season, with Bayer Leverkusen full-back Jeremie Frimpong on Merseyside this week to complete a transfer.
His team-mate in Germany, attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, is also expected to sign for a club record fee. A number of players are also expected to depart before next season, with Trent Alexander-Arnold set to complete a move to Real Madrid. However, Slot could also now be searching for a replacement in his coaching staff.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Slot’s assistant John Heitinga has been given permission to hold talks with Ajax. Negotiations between both parties are said to be at an advanced stage, with the 41-year-old in line to succeed Francesco Farioli as manager.
The Italian left the Eredivisie club after his side’s end-of-season collapse cost them the title. With seven games to go, Ajax were top of the table by nine points, but they ended up finishing a point behind champions PSV Eindhoven.
Romano added that Liverpool had already begun their own process of searching for a replacement for Heitinga. They appear to be resigned to the departure of the former defender, who joined Slot’s staff last summer after previously working with David Moyes at West Ham.
If a deal for Heitinga does go through, he’ll be returning to the club where he cemented iconic status as a player. He made 215 appearances for the Amsterdam outfit between 2001 and 2008, and later had stints at Atletico Madrid and Everton.
He also served as interim manager for the final five months of the 2023/24 campaign. He’d previously taken charge of the club’s under-19 team and the senior reserve side, Jong Ajax.
This season, he stepped in for Slot to guide the Reds to a 2-0 win over Newcastle in February. His promotion came after Slot and assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff were suspended following Liverpool’s controversial Merseyside derby draw at Goodison Park.