Liverpool need to get a bit of a move on if they’re to appoint a new manager before the end of the season.
There’s now just over five weeks to go until the curtain comes down on Jurgen Klopp’s successful reign at the club. The clock is very much ticking.
With that in mind, Liverpool looked to have ramped up their search by moving ahead with a contract for Sporting manager Ruben Amorim. It was claimed on Tuesday that the Reds had made a big breakthrough in talks with the 39-year-old.
However, those reports appear to have been a little premature. Although talks do seem to be ongoing with Amorim, other names – like Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann – are reportedly still in the frame.
And according to journalist Neil Jones, insiders at Liverpool are pretty insistent that Amorim has not yet been decided upon.
What’s the latest on Ruben Amorim and Liverpool
As they often do with any kind of recruitment, Liverpool are seemingly taking their time in deciding who should follow Klopp at Anfield.
It was only last week that they were still said to be considering a five-man shortlist after all. They’re not going to be rushed into making a decision.
Amorim was obviously one of the names claimed to be on that shortlist. However, writing in the Daily Briefing yesterday, Jones reports that sources at Liverpool are ‘adamant’ that the Portuguese has not been installed as the favourite.
“Ruben Amorim is certainly the main name in the frame for Liverpool this summer,” says the journalist.
“But I should stress that Anfield sources have been adamant that there has been no agreement reached with him, and that even the idea that he has been identified as the No.1 candidate is premature right now.”
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Who else could still be in the frame for Liverpool
Despite Liverpool’s reluctance to downplay their interest in Amorim, it does still seem likely that he’ll be the man to follow Klopp.
Jones goes on to report that he ‘suspects’ the Sporting manager will be the coach entrusted with continuing the German’s legacy in the summer. Nevertheless, it’s certainly isn’t a done deal. And that leaves the question of, well, who else could it be?
In our opinion, we also think Amorim will get the gig. But if he doesn’t, maybe Nagelsmann will be the next best thing. Bologna’s Thiago Motta has been rumoured to be in the picture, although rumours have died down in recent days.
Beyond those two – and Amorim – we can’t say that we’d be all that enthusiastic about anyone else. But maybe Liverpool have a surprise up their sleeve.