Lutsharel Geertruida transfer reaction impressed Arne Slot as Feyenoord ace 'seeks' Liverpool move

Liverpool are being linked with a move for Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida. Assuming Arne Slot is given the task of succeeding Jürgen Klopp as looks inevitable, there will likely be further players from his current club who are rumored to be interesting the Reds.

Geertruida appears keen on the move too. He was spotted among the away fans in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at West Ham United last weekend. Having posted about it on social media, the 23-year-old was hardly being subtle that he was in attendance.

He will already be well known to members of the Reds’ squad. Geertruida has made eight appearances alongside Ryan Gravenberch, at under-19 and under-21 level for the Netherlands. At senior international level, he has seven appearances with Virgil van Dijk and four with Cody Gakpo. If Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards want opinions on the player’s character, they won’t have to go far.

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According to De Telegraaf, Feyenoord knows that Geertruida is ready to take the next step in his career and is preparing for his departure. His contract expires at the end of next season, and it is believed his club will be looking for $32.2m (£25.7m/€30m) to allow him to leave this summer.

While Geertruida’s next destination might be Liverpool, nothing is guaranteed. There is reportedly also interest in Italy, for one thing. He also looked on the verge of moving to RB Leipzig last summer, passing Dominik Szoboszlai on his way out of the Bundesliga club.

That move obviously fell through for the Dutchman. However, the player’s reaction to that outcome impressed Slot, as he explained in a press conference last August.

"When it didn't go through, I called him that day. Actually, he did exactly what I expected from him: reacting in a very good way, also towards the team,” he said (via soccereco).

“He doesn't show his disappointment to his teammates, and he also feels great about playing for Feyenoord — his club. He is fully focused on this coming Sunday [the opening match of the Eredivisie season in which Geertruida captained the side]. I find that remarkably impressive for a player of his age experiencing something like this for the first time," Slot added.

Liverpool places a lot of value in a player’s character, not risking the harmony within the squad in pursuit of a superstar who might rock the boat. Geertruida responded well to missing out on a move to a top European league last summer, and in doing so it may indirectly help him continue his career in the Premier League with Liverpool.

Liverpool.com says: Liverpool is in need of defensive reinforcements this summer, so the link with Geertruida is believable, particularly as he is nearing the end of his contract. Edwards and Hughes are certain to be impressed by the character he showed last summer. Klopp's first Liverpool signing was Marko Grujić; will Geerturida go down in history in similar fashion for Slot?