Johnny Heitinga confirms he is in talks to join up with Arne Slot at Liverpool

The Dutchman, who spent five years as a player with Merseyside rivals Everton between 2009 and 2014, left his coaching role at West Ham following the departure of David Moyes earlier this summer.

Slot spoke to the media at a press conference for the first time as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement last week and confirmed his plans to keep adding to his staff following a raft of departures at the end of the Klopp era.

Sipke Hulshoff has joined as Slot’s assistant at Anfield after working with him at Feyenoord, while Ruben Peeters has been appointed their lead physical performance coach.

German goalkeeping coach Fabian Otte will leave his role with the United States Men’s National Team after this summer’s Copa America to take up a similar role on Merseyside.

Speaking alongside sporting director Richard Hughes last week, Slot said: “So those are the first positions we filled in and I think we are still looking for one or two other positions. Richard [Hughes] and me are calling each other a lot, not only about this but also about the positions we still have to fill in."

Heitinga moved to West Ham in September 2023 following his departure from Ajax, having failed to lead them into the Champions League for the first time since 2009 during a short stint in charge of the Amsterdam giants.

The 40-year-old left east London earlier this summer and has now confirmed his agent is in talks with Liverpool about the prospect of a move.

“I’m in talks with Liverpool,” he told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf.

“All I can say now is that I have been approached and that my agent Rob Jansen and I are in discussions.”