Liverpool remains on the lookout for Jürgen Klopp’s successor and FSG has reportedly asked its data and research teams to shortlist a number of candidates.
It is now a month since Jürgen Klopp announced his intentions to leave Liverpool at the end of the season. His long farewell couldn’t have gone any better so far, with a first trophy of a potential quadruple lifted at Wembley on Sunday.
The Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League remain in Liverpool’s sights while off the field, the club’s FSG owners face the unenviable task of replacing the German. Xabi Alonso has seemingly been the frontrunner for the post ever since Klopp’s announcement, with his Bayer Leverkusen side sitting top of Bundesliga right now.
Leverkusen hasn’t been beaten in any competitions at all this term and is on course to end Bayern Munich’s domination of German football. The response from the reigning champion has been to part ways with Thomas Tuchel this summer, with Alonso firmly in its sights.
That has complicated matters somewhat for Liverpool and led to other alternatives being considered. Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has also been in the running for some time, while The Independent reports Sporting CP boss Rúben Amorim is another option.
FSG chief Mike Gordon is said to be focusing on ‘young overachieving managers’ and has asked Liverpool’s data and research departments to draw up a list of candidates. It is claimed key criteria will include analysis of styles of play, and how each manager will utilize the current Reds squad.
And one name that ‘scores highly’ on the data is Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, according to The Athletic. Howe took over at St James’ Park in 2021 and led Newcastle to the Champions League last season. This term has not been as much of a success amid a spate of injury problems, with the Magpies 10th in the Premier League.
Howe was asked about his future after the midweek win over Blackburn in the FA Cup amid speculation that Newcastle could look to replace him. The ex-Bournemouth boss said: “I am just doing the job to the best of my ability. I’ll always do that for as long as I am here.”
His comments came after Bild reporter Christian Falk suggested Newcastle could target Julian Nagelsmann as its next boss. Interestingly, the German boss also ranks highly according to Liverpool’s data but any approach will likely have to wait until after the European Championships this summer.
It is claimed however that Howe would be ‘less likely’ to be on Liverpool’s shortlist to replace Klopp. The same is said for De Zerbi and another new name, Franck Haise at Lens, both of whom also score well in the data stakes without much prospect of making a final reckoning.
Amorim though is said to fit the bill due to the emphasis he places on sports science and he is said to have impressed those at Liverpool. But he has been coy about leaving Sporting this summer and has never managed outside of Portugal, while he has a hefty $11m (£8.6m/€10m) release clause.
Liverpool.com says: It is interesting to see Liverpool’s data team so heavily involved in appointing Klopp’s successor. There needs to be a smooth transition rather than a complete change of style and it is important that FSG get it right. Howe has done a fine job at Newcastle and is an excellent coach but it would not be a surprise if its owners looked elsewhere this summer.
Alonso is clearly still the standout candidate but everyone at Liverpool will accept that won’t be an easy appointment. Bayern is sniffing around the Spaniard, undoubtedly adding a complication, and the Bavarians probably aren’t the only ones. Amorim would be a decent option, as would Nagelsmann, but there are complications with both of those potential appointments.
