Liverpool are set for a busy summer not only in the transfer market, but also with key staff appointments and in other roles throughout Arne Slot‘s squad.
After a big change in the dugout a year ago, with Slot taking over from Jurgen Klopp, this time around brings the change to reshape his squad.
That means a number of incomings and outgoings planned for the transfer window, with Jeremie Frimpong already through the Shankly Gates as the first signing truly in the head coach’s image.
But there are other changes to come, too – some forced, some delayed from last year.
A new assistant for Slot
With John Heitinga vacating his role as assistant coach to take over as Ajax head coach, Liverpool will bring in a replacement.
The Athletic‘s James Pearce is among those to report that while there is no immediate name lined up, the search is already underway.
Marino Pusic, formerly Slot’s assistant at Feyenoord who turned down an offer to join him at Liverpool last summer, is the most obvious candidate having recently vacated the head coach role at Shakhtar Donetsk.
But there are other options, with Dirk Kuyt one of the names floated ahead of an expected departure from Belgian club Beerschot.
A new vice-captain
Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s move to Real Madrid – which banked Liverpool around £10 million having brokered a deal to release him early – has opened up the vice-captaincy again.
Mohamed Salah is likely to take the responsibility, having already played the part more than Alexander-Arnold, but Alisson, Andy Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister are also worth considering.
A decision is expected to be made later in the summer, with Liverpool not back for pre-season until July 8.
A new U18s manager
Another to exit the club this summer, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson announced he would be leaving his position as U18s manager at the end of April.
Having spent a decade at Liverpool and five years in his last role, Bridge-Wilkinson’s departure should prompt a reshuffle of academy staff.
While there has been a policy to promote from within where possible in recent years, there is a sense that an outside appointment could be made to address a youth setup full of talent but often lacking on the pitch.
A set-piece coach
Liverpool parked their search for a specialist set-piece coach last summer due to a lack of viable options, and first-team individual development coach Aaron Briggs filled the void in the interim.
But there is an expectation that a full-time appointment will be made, particularly if Slot’s Feyenoord collaborator Etienne Reijnen becomes available.
Reijnen was due to join Liverpool last summer only for work permit issues to scupper a move – if he is eligible a year later, don’t be surprised if that switch is revisited.
