Ruben Amorim continues to be put forward as the man most likely to take the Liverpool job this summer.
The 39-year-old had more success last night, his Sporting side beating Gil Vicente 4-0 to move seven points clear at the top of the league.
With just six games to go, Amorim looks nailed on to make it two league titles in four years at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. That should only deepen Liverpool’s reported determination to hire him.
The Reds’ hiring process has so far been overseen by new sporting director Richard Hughes. Still yet to officially join, Hughes looks set to be a good coup for Liverpool as he arrives from Bournemouth.
However, despite the 44-year-old’s imminent arrival – and that of Michael Edwards above him – the Reds are now claimed to be looking at appointing another director of football, one who’s very familiar with Amorim.
Liverpool interested in Hugo Viana
With Hughes and Edwards in place, Liverpool’s recruitment looks all set up for the foreseeable future. FSG are also pushing to hire Benfica technical director Pedro Marques.
Although Marques looks like he’ll only be involved with the owner’s multi-club ambitions, it’s likely that he’ll have at least some connection to Liverpool, too. So, you wouldn’t imagine that there’s any need for more directors at Anfield.
Well, according to Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda, Liverpool might actually see things differently. Writing on X, Sepulveda claims that the Reds are thinking about potentially hiring Sporting director of football Hugo Viana, along with Amorim.
“Hugo Viana could also leave Sporting CP at the end of the season if Ruben Amorim doesn’t stay and LFC will be aware of that,” he reports.
“Richard Hughes will be the new sporting director but Viana could fit Amorim’s staff.
“NUFC [Newcastle United] has also his name on the table.”
Who is Hugo Viana
For supporters of a certain age, they’ll need little introduction to Hugo Viana. He wasn’t in the Premier League too long, having spent two of his four years at Newcastle out on-loan.
However, as a Portugal international with 29 caps between 2001 and 2012, Viana was well-known in European football.
And since retiring in 2016, the former midfielder has swapped his kit for a suit. Having been appointed as Sporting’s sporting director, he was key in hiring Amorim back in 2019. As a former teammate of the manager at Braga and with the national team, Viana and Amorim are close.
Obviously, Liverpool would have little use for Viana in the role he currently holds. However, it would be interesting to find out where they see the 41-year-old fitting in. It’s worth remembering that nothing is done with Amorim just yet either, so this is just speculation for now. Fascinating, though.