Liverpool title hero advised to stay AWAY from Ajax

Liverpool could be soon under THREAT from Ajax for John Heitinga. Arne Slot’s assistant manager has made a successful start to life on Merseyside - forming part of the backroom team which delivered the Premier League title at the first time of asking.

Heitinga resisted the lure of joining West Brom earlier in the season when the Baggies reportedly made the 41-year-old Dutchman their No1 managerial target.

READ MORE: Liverpool to strike £15m deal with Leeds for defender with 'uncertain future'

The ex-defender opted to remain at Anfield to continue his work under Slot but sooner or later he may be tempted to strike out on his own.

READ MORE: Not just Wirtz! Liverpool STILL want £75m winger

Heitinga already had the chance to experience life as a head coach - filling in as a stopgap solution at Ajax back in 2023.

Ajax tipped to hire Heitinga

The Dutch giants neglected to give Heitinga the job on a full-time basis and he ended up on the staff of David Moyes at West Ham before joining Liverpool.

Ajax may now be regretting that decision, throwing the Eredivisie title away in the closing stages of the season and parting ways with Francesco Farioli.

Heitinga is now reported to be once again an item on the agenda at Ajax - with prominent voices in the Dutch media calling for him to be appointed.

"I actually think he is the most interesting choice, because he was able to copy Arne Slot for a year. He must have learned something from that," commentator Jeroen Grueter tells the NOS Football podcast.

However that was countered by another expert in Jeroen Elshoff, who claims Heitinga should stay put.

Heitinga shouldn't go to Ajax

"I wouldn't go to Ajax if I were him,” he said. “He's on a great train in Liverpool now. Why would you rush now, when you still have so much to learn and are so appreciated in Liverpool."

Arne Slot has already addressed the prospect of Heitinga leaving. "If Ajax would be smart, they would consider him,” he told Paul Joyce of the Times.

“He is ready to take on a job like that. If John is smart, he would stay one more season.”

READ MORE: Liverpool 'showing interest' in £60m Premier League hitman

Heitinga spent three years coaching the Ajax under-19s before stepping up to Jong Ajax and his caretaker spell with the first team. The former Dutch international also played over 200 times for the Amsterdam club during a highly decorated playing career.