Key Liverpool figure could be open to returning to former club after less than a year at Anfield

“[Robin] Van Persie’s the manager, Dick Advocaat’s there, and Dennis te Kloese – the man who negotiated Slot’s move to Liverpool – is leaving, and Van Bronckhorst is the leading candidate.

“He’s got a year left on his deal like Slot, but I think there’s an unwritten agreement that he could leave if the situation becomes that he wants to go. If he got offered that job I think he would go, which obviously leaves a vacancy at Liverpool. The plan at the moment is for everyone to see out the season and see where it goes after that.”

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The instability isn’t ideal for Liverpool

At this point it isn’t certain that Slot himself will remain in charge of Liverpool for next season (it’s been reliably reported that FSG are set to keep faith in him), but even if he does, another significant backroom departure wouldn’t be particularly ideal for the Reds boss.

Losing Heitinga and Van Bronckhorst in consecutive summers would be galling for the 47-year-old, who’d be left searching for another replacement to come in as his assistant. Even that might be a short-term appointment if the head coach’s contract isn’t renewed beyond next summer (or is terminated beforehand).

It’s the sort of behind-the-scenes instability that LFC could do without, and it has echoes of the frequent passing of the baton between sporting directors since 2022, with Michael Edwards, Julian Ward, Jorg Schmadtke and Richard Hughes all holding the position in that time.

From a Liverpool perspective, it’d be ideal if Slot’s right-hand man doesn’t leave for the vacancy at Feyenoord, although the head coach’s position is nowhere near as secure as it had been in the wake of Premier League glory this time last year.