Dirk Kuyt Arne Slot, Beerschot Liverpool
Dirk Kuyt Arne Slot, Beerschot Liverpool
Liverpool are lining up a move for former star Dirk Kuyt to replace John Heitinga on Arne Slot’s coaching staff, sources have told Football Insider.
Heitinga is set to leave his role as one of Slot’s assistants after just one season at Anfield to return to former club Ajax as head coach.
Former Liverpool striker Kuyt has been working in Belgium as head coach of Beerschot, but is set to leave the club this summer.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Arne Slot’s attackers struggled to find consistency this season. (Credit Imago)
Dirk Kuyt proves coaching capabilities with stint in Belgium
Kuyt’s career as a manager did not get off to the most auspicious of starts, as the 44-year-old was fired after just after just 16 matches in charge of Dutch side ADO Den Haag.
However, the former Liverpool striker has bounced back and after taking over Belgian side Beerschot, the Dutchman led the club to promotion to Belgium’s top-flight.
The Antwerp-based side suffered the ignominy of finishing bottom of the Pro League’s relegation group, but Kuyt impressed during his time in charge.
With Heitinga looking likely to take over the managerial job at Ajax, replacing the former Everton man with a Liverpool fan favourite will likely be a popular move.
Liverpool-mohamed-salah
Liverpool relied heavily on Mohamed Salah for goals this season. (Credit Imago)
Dirk Kuyt move signals Arne Slot intentions to improve Liverpool attack
Replacing Heitinga, a former defender with Kuyt, who spent his career as a striker and a winger, chimes with Slot’s intent to bolster Liverpool’s attacking capabilities this summer.
The Dutchman made a career out of his savvy positioning and smart attacking runs, and the Reds will hope he can translate his innate understanding of finding the back of the net onto the training pitch.
Ballon d’Or front-runner Mohamed Salah aside, Liverpool’s attackers have struggled this season, and there are set to be plenty of changes in the forward department this summer.
Diogo Jota has been linked with a move away, having scored just six times in the league this season, whilst Darwin Nunez could be heading to Saudi Arabia, after finding the back of the net just five times.
A comparatively strong defensive unit is losing Trent Alexander-Arnold after controversy around his free transfer to Real Madrid [Liverpool News] but is in line to be boosted by incoming moves anyway.