Home » ARTICLES » Former Liverpool midfielder namedrops one Eredivisie defender who Arne Slot should bring with him

Former Liverpool midfielder namedrops one Eredivisie defender who Arne Slot should bring with him

Photo of author

By Siddharth Juyal

Former Liverpool midfielder Boudewijn Zenden believes Feyenoord fullback Lutsharel Geertruida would be a fantastic signing new head coach Arne Slot

Boudewijn Zenden claimed that new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot could bring fullback Lutsharel Geertruida from his former club Feyenoord. Zenden pinpointed three players at Feyenoord’s current team that stand out which includes midfielders Quentin Timber, Mats Wieffer and Geertruida.

Geertruida played a pivotal role for Slot at Feyenoord, showcasing his versatility and being a big influence on the team. The 23-year-old mainly featured as a right-back last season but he is capable of playing in several different positions.

He can naturally play as a centre-back and holding midfielder while also capable of playing as a left-back if required. Standing at 1.84 metres, Geertruida has the physical prowess and athleticism to hold his own in aerial and ground duels.

Feyenoord's Dutch defender #04 Lutsharel Geertruida (L) and Ajax's Bosnian midfielder #33 Benjamin Tahirovic (R) fight for the ball during the Dutch Eredivisie football match between Feyenoord and Ajax at the Feyenoord De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, on April 7, 2024. (Photo by Pieter Stam de Jonge / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by PIETER STAM DE JONGE/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Bolo Zenden believes Arne Slot could bring Lutsharel Geertruida to Anfield as he is one of the standout performers at Feyenoord. (Photo by PIETER STAM DE JONGE/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

The 23-year-old has played mostly as an inverted right-back under Slot, playing a crucial role in their possessional buildup. He makes fantastic progressive runs down the middle, having an impressive positioning sense to return to his position while defending.

The Dutch international changes the structure of the team while they are in possession, making a double-pivot by dropping invert. Geertruida’s link-up play and shift from inverted right-back to a box-to-box midfielder is key to Slot’s tactical style.

The 23-year-old made 47 appearances in all competitions for Feyenoord last season, contributing with nine goals and providing five assists. Geertruida’s impressive versatility and natural ability to play as a centre-back also make him a top asset for Feyenoord.

Zenden told OLBG (via Liverpool Echo) that Geertruida is one of the standout performers that Slot could bring. He said:

“There’s probably three players that stand out a bit (at Feyenoord) as we reach the end of the season, Quentin Timber, a midfielder, who is the brother of Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber. There’s also Mats Wieffer, who’s also a midfielder. Another one guy is Lutsharel Geertruida, who’s the captain for Feyenoord. He can actually play in three different positions, which means centre back, right back, or as a holding midfielder. Geertruida would be the best player to sign from the current squad that Slot would consider bringing to Anfield.”

Slot is inheriting a fantastic squad from the legendary manager Jurgen Klopp and they can adapt quickly. However, the Dutchman would require some changes to fully implement his tactical vision and demand while rectifying past vulnerabilities.

More Liverpool news

Geertruida could be a fantastic signing for Liverpool but other areas in the squad need immediate attention. The Reds don’t spend big money on players unless they are a sheer necessity to them.