Feyenoord have reportedly earmarked one of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal assistants as a top target to take the reins from Liverpool-bound Arne Slot this summer.
One year on from snubbing Tottenham Hotspur to sign a new contract with the 2022-23 Eredivisie champions, Slot is now believed to be on the brink of leaving his homeland to join the Reds.
After links with Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso and Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim - who also held talks with West Ham United - led to nothing, Liverpool prioritised talks with Feyenoord for Slot, who openly admitted that he wanted to move to Anfield.
On Friday, it was reported that the two clubs had reached an agreement over a compensation package worth a total of £9.4m for Slot, who will step into Jurgen Klopp's shoes when the distinguished German departs this summer.
With Slot now on his way out, Feyenoord are turning their attention to potential successors for the 45-year-old, and according to Dutch outlet AD, Arsenal's Albert Stuivenberg is of particular interest.
© Reuters
Stuivenberg to return to Feyenoord after 21 years?
The 53-year-old has served as Arteta's right-hand man at the Emirates since the Spaniard took charge of the Gunners in December 2019, helping his side win one FA Cup and two Community Shields in that time.
During Arteta's absences through illness or suspension, Stuivenberg has acted as stand-in manager in his place, taking charge of a 2-1 reverse to Manchester City on New Year's Day 2022, where the Gunners only lost in the last minute.
The Dutchman also took the reins for December's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa with Arteta banned, and he has previous experience of coaching with Feyenoord, with whom he worked as a youth trainer for over a decade.
Stuivenberg, who had to retire playing in his teens due to a serious injury, was a youth coach at the Rotterdam club for 10 years between 1991 and 2001 before spending another two years at Under-19s manager, after which he also took charge of the Netherlands' Under-17 and Under-21 sides.
Stints as Louis van Gaal's Manchester United assistant and Genk manager followed for Stuivenberg, who was in charge of the Belgian club for 12 months from 2016 to 2017 in his only senior manager's job to date.
Stuivenberg one of two Arsenal assistants wanted for top jobs
© Reuters
Genk reached the quarter-finals of the 2016-17 Europa League under Stuivenberg's wing, and the 53-year-old also served as Wales assistant from 2018 to 2021 before leaving to focus on his work with Arsenal.
Stuivenberg is one of two Arsenal coaches to have been linked with a manager's job in recent months, as 28-year-old Carlos Cuesta is believed to be attracting interest from Norwich City.
Regarded as one of the most promising young coaches in world football, Cuesta was an assistant manager with Atletico Madrid and Juventus' youth teams before arriving at Arsenal in 2020, but his contract expires this summer.
Stuivenberg, Cuesta and Arteta all rejoiced in the Gunners' 3-2 North London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, where set-piece coach Nicolas Jover also played a key role, as two of his side's three goals arrived from corners.
Arsenal still hold a one-point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League table having played an extra game, and they return to the Emirates to host Bournemouth on Saturday lunchtime.
