Arne Slot already has one man he wants to bring with him to Liverpool, Van Dijk is a big fan - journalist

24/04/2024 09:30

Liverpool have reportedly chosen Feyenoord’s Arne Slot as the man to become their new manager.

Slot had not initially seemed likely to be in the running to take over from Jurgen Klopp this summer.

However, the Dutchman was outed on Tuesday as Liverpool’s preferred choice to follow Klopp at Anfield. With things now reportedly set to ‘move fast,’ it really looks like the Reds have found their man.

For Liverpool fans, there will be mixed emotions no doubt. Finding a successor for Jurgen really brings it home once again that the big man is really leaving. And although he’s obviously a talented coach, there are perhaps some concerns that the step up will be too big for Slot.

Just as it has been for Klopp, it will be vital that his replacement has a good coaching team around him. Pep Lijnders has been crucial to everything good about Liverpool in recent years and by the sounds of things, Slot has has his very own Lijnders lined up.

Who does Arne Slot want as assistant manager

Klopp’s entire first-team staff have always been influential to everything he’s achieved at Liverpool. It will be strange to see many of them leave the club with him.

But, with the new man coming in, it’s important that he brings people with him who can help him to succeed.

And with that in mind, Slot is reportedly already preparing to assemble his team for the Reds.

Taking to X last night, journalist Dominic King claimed that the Dutchman will look to bring his current assistant manager at Feyenoord, Sipke Hulshoff, with him.

“Arne Slot update: he would be prepared to bring his assistant Sipike Hulshoff with him to Liverpool if the move deal gets done,” King reports. “It is absolutely clear now Slot is preferred candidate at this stage.”

Who is Sipke Hulshoff

Plenty of Liverpool supporters may not have even heard of Slot before the last couple of days, so they won’t be expected to know his assistant either.

But, as it turns out, some at Anfield are already very aware of Hulshoff. The 49-year-old combines his duties at Feyenoord with also being Ronald Koeman’s assistant for the Netherlands national team.

Obviously, there he will have come into contact with Liverpool’s Dutch trio of Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and – more importantly – captain Virgil van Dijk. Van Dijk has publicly praised Hulshoff in the past, raving about his tactical strength to Voetbal International last year.

“Of course, I didn’t know Sipke Hulshoff at all before this,” says the Liverpool captain. “You have to get to know each other. You can see what his qualities are and I personally like that. Hopefully he can continue that. He is very clear and tactically strong. I like the moments when he leads a training session. I think I also speak on behalf of the group. We’re only four days in, but it’s a good start.”

Knowing the captain will surely be a big boost for Hulshoff is he does indeed come in. Fascinating.