Report:Arne Slot’s Longstanding Interest in Defender May Yet Influence Liverpool | OneFootball

Sam Beukema, Arne Slot and Sliding Doors in Football’s Great ‘What If?’ Moments

Slot’s Vision Meets Beukema’s Crossroads

Arne Slot’s journey from Eredivisie visionary to Premier League conqueror has been well documented in recent months, yet even he may allow himself a quiet chuckle at how close he came to signing Bologna’s Sam Beukema years ago, suggests reports from The Telegraph. Their recent reunion on Champions League turf served as a reminder of a sliding doors moment in modern football.

Beukema was on the rise in 2021, weighing up his next move from Go Ahead Eagles. Slot, already identifying players who matched his tactical fluidity and progressive style, saw the Dutch centre-back as a perfect fit for Feyenoord. A meeting was arranged. Not in an agent’s office or a corporate boardroom, but in Slot’s own family home—personal, purposeful, persuasive.

“It was a really good conversation and he showed me things that I hadn’t thought of before,” recalls Beukema. “My uncle was even more excited than me!”

The uncle in question, Bas, a dyed-in-the-wool Feyenoord fan, made no secret of his allegiance. Slot made his pitch, underpinned by footballing ideology and a sense of project-building. “You could see he approached football differently to other managers and I had a really good feeling – and so did my uncle. He told me to go there but I said, ‘let’s wait’.”

Photo: IMAGO

Bologna’s Bold Evolution

Beukema did wait. AZ Alkmaar, more stable at the time, won his signature. There were no regrets. He used the move as a stepping stone, now shining brightly at Bologna—Serie A’s new disruptors.

“I went to AZ not because of Arne Slot but at the time I didn’t know how Feyenoord would do and AZ was more stable and was a more safe choice,” says Beukema. “Sometimes you think ‘what if?’ but who can tell if things would have been different? I was happy with the choices I made.”

Photo: IMAGO

His path led him to Italy, where under Thiago Motta, and now Vincenzo Italiano, Bologna became an anomaly in a traditionally conservative league. They play attacking football, pressing high, shifting lines, and even turning centre-backs into midfield orchestrators.

“We had a lot of possession in a lot of our games. As a centre-back, we were in midfield, and played different to any other teams in Serie A. [Riccardo] Calafiori, was in the front line a lot,” explains Beukema. “I was saying, ‘Cala, stay back, you’re a defender’, but Motta gave us that freedom to go forward and I did it, too.”

It is modern football, Italian-style—with a Dutch accent.

Compliments and Champions League Credentials

Bologna’s identity under Italiano has retained that dynamism, albeit with more directness. “This year under Mr Italiano, we still have the dynamic way of playing, but it is a bit more direct and the difference is that we play one-v-one across the pitch. It is intense and you need to be fit. But we don’t change for anyone.”

Such was their boldness that when they faced Liverpool in the Champions League, Slot—now occupying Klopp’s former throne at Anfield—was candid in his praise.

“He texted me and wished me good luck and said unfortunately you did not choose us, but I wish you the best for the future,” Beukema said. “We played Liverpool this season and I spoke with him, he asked how I was and said, ‘Now at this level, we are here’. He said, ‘You played a good game and surprised us, we didn’t expect you to be so aggressive and do so well with the ball’. I think he expected an easier game, but gave us a really big compliment.”

Future Possibilities and Premier League Dreams

Beukema, now 26, could yet find himself back on Slot’s radar. Liverpool’s need for a centre-back has grown clearer, and with Slot favouring players who understand space, movement and high-possession football, Beukema fits the mould.

“I’ve been following the Premier League since I was a young kid and I love the competition,” he admits. “For me it is maybe the best league to play in. I’m playing in a really big league, but the Premier League is something different with all the big teams, the high level. You see the atmosphere also and it is amazing.”

Whether it’s Liverpool or elsewhere, Beukema’s openness to future challenges adds spice to a career already decorated with impressive chapters. “Let’s see. I always like to challenge myself. I challenge myself a lot at Bologna, but I don’t know what will happen in the future. You can feel something special is coming here. We have these two objectives and want to achieve them both. We want to make history with the final. It will be really big for this club.”

For now, he is chasing history with Bologna. But don’t rule out Slot dialling his number once again.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Liverpool fans reading this might feel a mixture of admiration and quiet anticipation. Sam Beukema’s development at Bologna, his maturity, tactical intelligence, and willingness to adapt scream “Slot player”. The chemistry is already there—the mutual respect, the shared footballing language. It’s the sort of backstory that makes transfers feel fated.

With Liverpool potentially looking to evolve their backline—especially as Joel Matip moves on and Ibrahima Konaté continues to battle inconsistency—Beukema becomes a name to watch. He’s already tested himself against the Premier League elite and earned compliments. He’s tactically versatile, comfortable in a possession-heavy style, and physically robust enough to handle the league’s pace.

If the stars align, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Beukema walk through the gates at Kirkby one day. This isn’t just a rumoured target. It feels like unfinished business. For fans hoping to see Slot fully shape the team in his own image, Beukema might just be a missing puzzle piece.