- A Liverpool manager has been proposed to fill the vacant West Brom manager position
- Carlos Corberán left the Baggies after Valencia paid his termination clause
- LISTEN NOW: It's all starting! New line-up, some new faces, but optimism has faded at Old Trafford
Liverpool manager John Heitinga has become one of the favorites to fill the vacant manager's position at West Bromwich Albion.
The 41-year-old Dutchman has made a big impression at Anfield under manager Arne Slot, who named his compatriot in a nod to Heitinga's Premier League experience.
He had previously played for Everton and Fulham before working alongside David Moyes as manager at West Ham last season and his potential departure would be felt by Slot and his playing staff, among whom he has proven to be a popular figure.
Hetinga was previously in charge of Ajax for a brief period when he guided them to third place during a period of turmoil before joining West Ham and then pursuing the option of joining Slot at Liverpool. West Brom believe that despite the problem at Ajax, he has the potential to prove himself as a great manager in his own right.
They want a brilliant thinker to succeed Carlos Corberán, who left for Valencia at Christmas, and see Heitinga as a man who can lead them out of the Championship and back into the Premier League.
Slot praised Heitinga earlier this month and admitted the young manager has exceeded his expectations so far at Anfield.
Liverpool manager John Heitinga is the favorite to fill the vacant manager's position at West Brom
Carlos Corberán left the Baggies on Christmas Eve after two years at the Championship club
Valencia paid the 41-year-old's £2.8m release clause to bring him back to his home country.
'One of the reasons we work together is because we have a lot in common, whether it's about the playing style, the playing model or the changes we make during the game.
“John Heitinga will be here with me for the first half of the season and I couldn't have wished for more,” said the Liverpool manager. “Very, if I say, talented, I don't even rate him high enough because he's already more than that, he's been a head coach himself but he's still young.”
'He joined our staff from the beginning in a very good way. He has the same idea about football, that's why I chose him to come with us too. But his way of being with the kids is very positive. Everything we do we do together.
“John has played a lot of games in the Premier League and last season he was an assistant coach at West Ham, so he brings experience as a player, but also as an assistant in this league.
“He worked with someone I know very well, and we both have a pretty similar playing style, so I think it won't take him long to understand exactly what we want with the players.”