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Liverpool are optimistic about the possibility of Pep Lijnders returning to the club at some point in his coaching career, according to Arne Slot’s first boss Henk De Jong.

De Jong, the former manager of Dutch side Cambuur, appointed Slot as his assistant when the club competed in the second division in 2014.

Slot later succeeded the 59-year-old in the top job two years later.

Lijnders rejoined Liverpool in a senior coaching role within Jurgen Klopp’s setup during the summer of 2018.

Previously, the Dutchman spent three-and-a-half years with the club, initially serving as the U16s coach at the Academy for a season before transitioning to the newly established position of first-team development coach in 2015.

Lijnders, along with Jurgen Klopp, Peter Krawietz, and Vitor Matos, is set to depart Anfield at the end of the season.

De Jong, who was reportedly invited to Liverpool’s Kirkby base to provide Klopp and his staff with insights into Slot, mentioned that Liverpool hope Pep Lijnders will return to the club at some point in the future.

“Everyone at Liverpool is hoping that Arne is going to do really well,” said De Jong.

“Pep Lijnders is not staying, but I sensed everyone at Liverpool is hoping Pep will come back to the club one day.

“They all spoke very highly about him and I really think he has built a big reputation for himself.”

Lijnders is poised to kickstart his managerial career after playing a pivotal role in Liverpool’s triumphs under Klopp.

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk expressed his confidence in Lijnders, foreseeing a promising future for him in the football world.

“Hopefully he will carry on his development, and if he becomes a head coach somewhere then he could be very successful,” Van Dijk told the Mirror.

“You never know that the future might bring.

“You need a bit of luck as a coach as well, and you need the right circumstances, but he’s been very important for the success of the club and we will never forget that.

“So whatever happens I wish him all the best and the success that he deserves, so let’s see.

“I should also be exciting for him to see what the next chapter will be?

“I will forever be thankful for everything he’s done for us in the football club.”

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