'I have been approached' - Former Everton star confirms Arne Slot wants him on coaching team at Liverpool

Liverpool continue to hunt for staff to assist Slot in his debut season at Anfield and Heitinga is of interest to the Reds after earning top reviews early into his coaching career.

Heitinga spent five years as an Everton player between 2009 and 2014, making 140 appearances for the club. He later hung up his boots at Ajax, before embarking on a coaching career with the Amsterdam giants. Last season, he was a first-team coach under David Moyes at West Ham. The 40-year-old could become the latest appointment to Slot's staff after last month's announcement regarding arrivals of Sipke Hulshoff and Ruben Peeters from Feyenoord, as well as Fabian Otte from the USMNT. Aaron Briggs has also joined as an elite development coach.

Via The Times, Heitinga said: "All I can say now is that I have been approached, and my agent Rob Jansen and I are in conversation."

Slot welcomed the first group of returning Liverpool players to pre-season training on Friday and is expected to put the squad, which will fill out as more names come off international duty, through its paces before 2024-25 begins. Summer friendlies begin on July 26 with a clash with Real Betis in Pittsburgh, followed by further tour games against Arsenal and Manchester United. A final friendly at Anfield on August 11 is against Sevilla.