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Liverpool assistant coach John Heitinga(Image: Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Liverpool have given permission for John Heitinga to hold talks with Ajax over being appointed their new head coach.

Heitinga arrived at Anfield last summer as assistant to new Reds boss Arne Slot and has been a key figure in the backroom staff as Liverpool romped to a record-equalling 20th championship.

Ajax are looking for a new boss after Francesco Farioli stepped down following his team's dramatic collapse that saw them surrender a nine-point lead in the final five games to lose the Eredivise title to PSV Eindhoven.

And Heitinga, who was previously interim manager at Ajax during the first half of 2023, is their preferred choice to lead the club next season alongside Marcel Keizer, with whom he has previously worked as a coach.

Keizer also had a brief spell in charge of Ajax in 2017 and worked with Slot at Cambuur the same year.

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Reports in Holland have stated Heitinga - who was earlier this year wanted by Championship side West Bromwich Albion - is open to a return to the Amsterdam Arena with the Dutch side confident an agreement can be reached with Liverpool regards compensation.

Slot was asked last week about suggestions Ajax were considering a move for Heitinga, and said: "If Ajax would be smart, they would consider him.

If John is smart, he would stay one more season."

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Should Heitinga leave, Liverpool would look to appoint a new member to the coaching staff.

Etienne Reijnen, the current Feyenoord assistant coach, had initially been slated to join Slot at Anfield last summer until the move was scuppered due to work permit issues.