Liverpool are close to confirming that John Heitinga, the former Netherlands and Everton defender, will join their backroom staff as first-team coach under Arne Slot.
Heitinga, 40, was part of David Moyes’s set-up at West Ham United last season and has been in discussions with the Anfield club for the past week.
He will join his fellow Dutchman Slot back on Merseyside, where he spent five seasons as a player at Everton. Slot has been seeking a coach with Premier League experience and Heitinga fits the bill.
Heitinga, who had offers from other clubs including Nordsjaelland in Denmark, also had a spell as interim coach of Ajax in the second half of the 2022-23 season. He began his playing career with the Dutch side and while in charge boasted a 63 per cent win ratio.
Liverpool have already appointed Aaron Briggs, the former Manchester City analyst, as elite development coach, where he will act as a link between the first team and the academy.
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Briggs, 37, was assistant coach at the German club Wolfsburg under Niko Kovac before their departure in March.
He replaces Vitor Matos at Anfield after Matos moved to Red Bull Salzburg with the former Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders.
Slot has already brought Sipke Hulshoff with him from Feyenoord as his No2 and Ruben Peeters as his lead physical performance coach.
Liverpool have appointed Fabian Otte as their goalkeeping coach after the departures of John Achterberg and Jack Robinson.
Meanwhile Bordeaux have been informed by Fenway Sports Group, the Liverpool owner, of the company’s intention not to continue in talks regarding the purchase of the French club. “This decision is notably due to the considerable cost of the stadium in the coming years but also the general economic context of French football,” a Bordeaux statement read.
