EXCLUSIVERevealed: New Liverpool boss Arne Slot is considering hiring former EVERTON star to his backroom staff

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Former Everton defender Johnny Heitinga is being considered by Merseyside rivals Liverpool to join Arne Slot's backroom team as a coach, Mail Sport has learned.

The former Dutch international, who played at five tournaments for the Netherlands, had been working as a coach at West Ham under David Moyes but has held talks with a view to joining compatriot Slot on Merseyside.

The deal is not at an advanced stage just yet and others are being considered to complete Slot's backroom cabinet, but the interest in Heitinga might raise eyebrows due to his connections across Stanley Park.

Heitinga has gone on record to outlet De Telegraaf in the Netherlands to say: 'All I can say now is that I have been approached and that my agent Rob Jansen and I are in conversation.' 

It is understood Liverpool have welcomed former Manchester City man Aaron Briggs to the club as a development coach to replace Vitor Matos, who was described as 'the link man' between the first team and academy by Jurgen Klopp.

Arne Slot is considering adding a former Everton star to his backroom staff at Liverpool

The Reds are in talks with Johnny Heitinga who spent five years as a player at Goodison Park 

Heitinga made 140 appearances for the Toffees in all competitions between 2009 and 2014

Briggs spent nine years at Manchester City as an analyst and coach. The former Monaco and Wolfsburg man has already started working with Liverpool, who began pre-season training on Friday. The 37-year-old was head-hunted by the Reds' recruitment team. 

Heitinga, meanwhile, played 140 times for Everton as a defender in his career, as well as stints at the likes of Ajax and Atletico Madrid. Since retiring, he has coached at the Amsterdam club and West Ham — but departed when Moyes left the east London side this summer.

It would be an eye-catching move for the 40-year-old who was well thought of at Goodison Park. Heitinga knows Slot well as a fellow Dutchman and also has an understanding of the Premier League – both of which work in his favour – but he is not the only candidate for the role.

The Briggs appointment is confirmed and that leaves Liverpool just needing to fill the roles of first-team coach – which Heitinga is a candidate – and set-piece specialist, which they have advertised for on LinkedIn. A process is under way to recruit for the latter role.

Slot recently appointed goalkeeping coach Fabian Otte, who joins after working with the United States national team at Copa America. It is believed Otte's replacement with the States will be former Liverpool keeper coach Jack Robinson.

The previous head of goalkeeping John Achterberg has joined up with Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia. Sipke Hulshoff will be Slot's assistant head coach and the pair go back a long way, while Ruben Peeters has joined as head of performance.