Liverpool 'wants Pep Lijnders return' as Jürgen Klopp assistant's next step after exit clear

Liverpool is keeping the door open for a potential Pep Lijnders comeback after Jürgen Klopp's right-hand man decided to part ways with Anfield. The club is optimistic that Lijnders will circle back to them at some point in his coaching career, as suggested by Arne Slot's mentor Henk De Jong.

Henk De Jong, who previously managed Cambuur in the Netherlands and brought on Slot as his assistant when they were in the second tier, later handing over the reins to him, recently visited Liverpool's training ground in Kirkby. There, he shared insights about Slot, who is tipped to take over from Klopp this summer, and learned of the club's hopes for Lijnders' return.

"Everyone at Liverpool is hoping that Arne is going to do really well," De Jong commented, via the Mirror. "Pep Lijnders is not staying, but I sensed everyone at Liverpool is hoping Pep will come back to the club one day.

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"They all spoke very highly about him and I really think he has built a big reputation for himself."

Lijnders is keen to step into a managerial role, having played a pivotal part in Liverpool's triumphs during Klopp's tenure. With Lijnders' exit, along with fellow assistant Peter Krawietz, development coach Vitor Matos, and goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, Liverpool is bracing for a significant overhaul this summer.

Speaking last month, Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk expressed his conviction that Lijnders, aged 41, is destined for great things in football. "Hopefully he will carry on his development, and if he becomes a head coach somewhere then he could be very successful," said Van Dijk.

"You never know what the future might bring. You need a bit of luck as a coach as well, and you need the right circumstances, but he's been very important for the success of the club and we will never forget that.

"So whatever happens I wish him all the best and the success that he deserves, so let's see. I should also be exciting for him to see what the next chapter will be. I will forever be thankful for everything he's done for us in the football club."

Liverpool.com says: It will be interesting to see where Lijnders goes next in his career. He has been linked with a number of positions since his departure was announced alongside Klopp, and you suspect he won't waste much time in finding his next job.

Clearly, a move into management is his next step, and it will certainly be worth keeping an eye on his development. It goes without saying we want Slot to do well at Anfield, but if Lijnders can become a successful manager, a return to Anfield could be in the pipeline further down the line.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Mirror by clicking here.