Liverpool look likely to see plenty of changes in the playing squad this summer as they aim to begin a Premier League title defence.

Despite romping to the championship, there are improvements to be made for the Reds and the recruitment team are all set to make them.

This time last year, it was not the Liverpool playing squad which was seeing upheaval, but the team behind the team.

With Jurgen Klopp leaving and taking plenty of staff with him, the Liverpool coaching team had to be rebuilt.

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Arne Slot took assistant Sipke Hulshoff with him from Feyenoord, but otherwise the Reds were faced with some big decisions about who else to bring in.

Surprisingly, Liverpool opted for former Everton defender John Heitinga as Slot’s second, second in command and have seen the Dutchman go from strength to strength in the role.

Now, with other clubs sniffing around Heitinga as a head coach, Slot has admitted there is a chance he could leave.

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As things panned out, Liverpool were lucky to get Heitinga when they did.

The 41-year-old is very highly rated and is clearly on the path to a head coach position.

Several clubs were interested in Heitinga this winter, but the former Netherlands international chose to stay with the Reds and win the league.

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Now that mission has been accomplished, though, it remains a possibility that others come back to check on Heitinga’s availability in the summer.

One club who are perhaps more likely than any other are Ajax, who Heitinga was in charge of for the final five months of the 2022/23 season.

However, in quotes from The Times, the Liverpool head coach also urges Heitinga to spend an extra year learning the trade.

“If Ajax would be smart, they would consider him,” Slot said.

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

Given Heitinga’s success while in interim charge at Ajax, this does feel like something that could happen.

The World Cup finalist is clearly keen to take charge on his own some day and the opportunity is there at his old club.

However, as Slot says, there is plenty to be said for staying at Liverpool as well.

In Slot, Heitinga has a brilliant mentor and is part of a hugely exciting project.

From a Liverpool point of view, it would be a shame to see him leave.
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