Liverpool are set to be extremely busy this summer as they prepare to defend their Premier League title.

The Reds appear keen to do business early as they address several deficiencies within the squad.

While Liverpool work on a deal to sign Florian Wirtz, though, and with the likes of Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Hugo Ekitike all potentially arriving, they now have to make an adjustment on the non-playing staff.

With assistant coach John Heitinga highly rated within the game, there was always a chance Liverpool would lose him this summer.

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Heitinga managed Ajax on an interim basis for five months in 2023, and there has long been a feeling that the Dutchman would be aiming for a career as a head coach.

And after just one year on the Liverpool coaching staff, it now looks as though Heitinga’s departure is imminent.

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Friday has been a busy day for Liverpool.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit was officially announced, while there is an expectation that Frimpong’s arrival may also be sealed.

Amid all of that, though, Dutch outlet De Telegraaf reported that Ajax have struck an agreement for Heitinga to return.

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The 41-year-old will reportedly come back to the Amsterdam club alongside Marcel Keizer.

Keizer is another former assistant of Arne Slot, with the Dutch pair having worked together at Cambuur.

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Heitinga will reportedly be ‘the figurehead’ coach, though, and, along with Keizer, has agreed a contract with Ajax until 2027.

It’s claimed that Heitinga’s agreement with Liverpool will now have to be ‘terminated’ with the lawyers said to be busy drawing up the final papers.

The paper claim that no problems are expected to arise during this process.

It remains to be seen just how big an impact Heitinga leaving will have on Slot and his coaching team.

But there’s little doubt that the former Everton man was influential.

Liverpool must now look for an appropriate replacement for Heitinga, and there are several interesting options out there.

The Reds could go down the former player route, with the likes of Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerrard and even Thiago Alcantara potentially coming into the frame.

Meanwhile, former assistant Pep Lijnders is out of a job and reportedly being eyed by Manchester City.

Slot and Lijnders know each other already, but a return would feel unlikely at this point.

In our opinion, a reunion with former Feyenoord assistant Marino Pusic is most likely, with the 53-year-old having recently left Shakhtar Donetsk.
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