Arne Slot faces Liverpool headache with trusted ally wanted for managerial role

Arne Slot could face a mid-season blow to his Liverpool set-up as a member of his coaching team is being eyed by West Brom.

The Reds have quickly settled under their Dutch coach and taken the Premier League by storm this term, despite a number of key players being out of contract at the end of the season. Even with Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold set to enter the final six months of their contracts, Liverpool have enjoyed an almost faultless start to sit top of the division by six points, with a game in hand.

Liverpool could see another attempt to disrupt their challenge emerge with coach John Heitinga becoming a frontrunner for the vacant manager's job at the Hawthorns, per reports. Carlos Corberan departed the Baggies on Christmas Eve ahead of being named manager of Valencia.

Former Everton star Heitinga was added to Slot's backroom team in July having previously worked under David Moyes. Heitinga has previously served as the interim head coach of Ajax after Alfred Schreuder left the club in 2023, and improved the position of the Dutch giants.

And the 41-year-old has started to forge an impressive coaching reputation, having previously coached in the Premier League with West Ham. Slot was pleased to add him to Liverpool's ranks due to his Premier League experience as a player and a coach.

Liverpool's head coach has offered a glowing report of Heitinga's work during their short time together. "One of the reasons why we work together is because we have so much in common, if it’s about playing style, game model or the changes we make during the game," he said.

"John Heitinga is now here with me for the first half season and I couldn’t have wished for more. Very, if I say, talented, I do not even rate him high enough because he’s more than that already, he’s been a head coach himself but he’s still young.

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

"He grew into our staff from the start in a very good manner. He has the same idea about football, that’s why I chose him to come to us as well. But the way he is with the boys is very positive. All the things we do we do together."

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