After firing Brendan Rodgers as their manager on Sunday, Liverpool seem to be eager to name a replacement as soon as possible.
Multiple reports from the BBC, Sky Sports and German outlets claim that Liverpool have reached out to Jurgen Klopp’s representatives about the possibility of the former Borussia Dortmund boss replacing Rodgers at Anfield.
[ PLAYBACK: Rodgers gone, but not forgotten ]
Reports also claim that former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has been approached by Klopp to find out more about the City of Liverpool, the fans and the club.
Klopp, 48, has been out of management since the end of last season when he ended his seven-year spell at Dortmund to go on a self-imposed sabbatical.
The German coach led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles and a UEFA Champions League final, and many seem him as the perfect replacement for Rodgers given his passionate coaching style on the sidelines, plus his track record of cultivating exciting soccer and building a successful squad from a nucleus of talented youngsters.
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Liverpool’s American owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG) aim to have a new manager in place before their next Premier League game at Tottenham Hotspur on Oct. 17.
As mentioned, Klopp is currently out of work so any potential move for the German coach go through pretty quickly if he is interested in the position. but is anyone else surprised this initial contact wasn’t made before Rodgers was fired as Liverpool boss? Surely they directors at Liverpool who made the decision to axe Rodgers already had a replacement lined up? Maybe. Maybe not.
One potential stumbling block in any move for Klopp could be the “transfer committee” system in place at Liverpool, as the manager is only one member of the committee which decides on new signings. Other members include scouts Dave Fallows and Barry Hunter, analysis expert Michael Edwards, FSG’s rep Mike Gordon and Liverpool’s chief executive Ian Ayre. Is Klopp, or anybody else for that matter, willing to let those people decide which players they will manage?
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With Carlo Ancelotti also a front-runner for the job, Klopp seems more suited to building something sustainable at Anfield. Ancelotti has a track record of being someone who comes in late in a project and provides the finishing touches to a team who is challenging for trophies on the domestic or European stage. Currently, Liverpool is nowhere near that level as a serious rebuilding project is needed.
The bookies favorite is Klopp and all signs are pointing towards the German bringing his famous snarl, spectacles and baseball cap to Anfield.
