April 5 – Liverpool have opened talks with Sporting manager Ruben Amorim to succeed Jurgen Klopp at the end of the current season.
The news breaks after former top target Xabi Alonso announced his intention to stay at Bayer Leverkusen next season earlier this week, forcing the newly appointed sporting structure at Anfield to search elsewhere for the elusive successor to Jurgen Klopp.
The German revealed his plan to leave the club back January saying he is “running out of energy”.
Initial reports suggest Liverpool would have to pay about around £17 million (€20 million) to trigger Amorim’s release clause.
FC Barcelona were also keen on securing Amorim’s signature as they look to replace Xavi in the summer, but have since abandoned the race with Liverpool the preferred option for the 39-year-old.
The former Portugal international has averaged 2.36 points per game this season as his team continues to fend off Benfica and Porto at the top of the Liga Portugal table.
There’s still plenty of work to be done by Liverpool ahead of the management reshuffle in the summer, as Klopp’s men dug out a hard-earned win versus Sheffield United on Thursday night.
Liverpool opened the scoring early through Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, but panic set in after Conor Bradley touched the ball into his own net.
With Sheffield maintaining a stubborn defence and time running out, summer signing Alexis Mac Allister scored a thumping effort from long range. Dutch attacker Cody Gakpo made it 3-1 as the game ended.
Liverpool’s title run-in doesn’t get any simpler, as the Reds travel to Old Trafford to face arch-rivals Manchester United. Last time out, Klopp’s side were on the wrong end of a bitter comeback in the FA Cup.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1732316514labto1732316514ofdlr1732316514owedi1732316514sni@g1732316514niwe.1732316514yrrah1732316514