The Liverpool coach has reportedly identified a familiar face at the Stadium of Light to solve his defensive recruitment puzzle this summer
Liverpool are already focusing on summer targets as they look to right the wrongs of a disappointing Premier League season. With Champions League football almost secured, Arne Slot is said to be keen on a number of Dutch compatriots, one of whom is Sunderland loanee Lutsharel Geertruida.
The Netherlands international, who rose to prominence under Slot at Feyenoord, has spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light from RB Leipzig.
After being reportedly interested to acquire his services in January, sports journalist Valentijn Driessen has claimed that Slot could reignite interest in the 25-year-old on-loan Sunderland defender.
Geertruida is a versatile player, primarily a right-back, but also able to operate at centre-back as well as a holding midfield role. This flexibility has not gone unnoticed by Slot, who previously attempted to sign the defender during his tenure in Rotterdam and again during the January window.
“He’s going to bring in Dutch players again,” Driessen said. “He already wanted Lutsharel Geertruida in the winter, and he’ll likely come back for him in the summer. He also wanted to sign Denzel Dumfries.”
While Sunderland reportedly hold a £20 million option to make his stay permanent following their promotion to the Premier League, the allure of Champions League football and a reunion with his former mentor is expected to play a decisive role in the player’s final decision.
Meanwhile, according to VI, the Reds have also set sights on Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke.
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“Sources both at Anfield and close to Van Hecke confirm that there is contact between both parties,” the report read.
“As a result, the NAC Breda youth academy product could be on the verge of a dream transfer.
“It is clear that manager Arne Slot is a big fan of Van Hecke. As manager of Feyenoord, he already wanted to bring the Dutch national team player to De Kuip, and now the same applies to Anfield.”
Slot seeks familiar tactical reliability amidst backroom changes
The pursuit of Geertruida coincides with Slot’s efforts to add to his technical team, with Feyenoord assistant Etienne Reijnen reportedly on the verge of joining the Merseyside project according to Driessen.
The arrival of Reijnen is seen as a vital step in ensuring the confidence of the squad remains high during a period of transition.
“Etienne Reijnen, who sits next to Robin van Persie, is going to get his degree and head in that direction,” Driessen added.
