A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Anfield chiefs weigh up selling one of their 2023 signings already and Arne Slot fails in his quest to secure an early Reds addition.
Liverpool enquired into Thiago Motta replacing Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool made enquiries to sound out Bologna manager Thiago Motta as a replacement for Jurgen Klopp before prioritising Arne Slot. That is according to Gianluca Di Marzio, who says the Reds, Manchester United, Juventus and FC Porto all appreciate what Motta would offer.
Motta is in his most successful position as a senior head coach so far at Bologna after taking charge in September 2022. The Italian is earning 1.7 points per Serie A game with I Rossoblu after 0.7 ppg at Genoa and 0.9 ppg at Spezia after leaving Paris Saint-Germain’s Under-19s.
But Bologna only have Motta under contract until June 2024, so Liverpool sought to explore his interest in replacing Klopp. The German will leave Anfield at the end of this season after deciding to depart early. Yet while the Reds admire Motta, he is more likely to join Juventus.
“There are several clubs that have enquired from abroad,” Di Marzio said on Sky Italia, via quotes by Tutto Juve. “Manchester United, Liverpool [and] Porto if Conceicao doesn’t stay. But among all these teams, I think Juventus is the one who has the best chance.”
Read more about Liverpool’s interest in Motta replacing Klopp at Anfield, here.
Liverpool could sell Wataru Endo just one season after his arrival
Graeme Bailey has exclusively told Rousing The Kop that Liverpool might look to sell Wataru Endo already in the summer. The midfielder only moved to Merseyside last summer and has been a regular part of the plans. But Endo could return to the Bundesliga in the near future.
Liverpool will look to refresh their engine room again in the off-season as Thiago Alcantara is very unlikely to receive a new contract. But the Reds will also consider letting Endo go a year after his arrival. The 31-year-old has featured 40 times through their 55 fixtures this season.
Anfield chiefs do not rule out selling the 61-cap Japan anchor already as Endo cost Liverpool £16m to sign from VfB Stuttgart last August. The Reds should recoup most, if not all, of that fee after Endo proved himself to be a fine defensive midfielder in Germany over four years.
Read more about Liverpool potentially selling Endo after only one season, here.
Arne Slot fails to tempt Marino Pusic to join Liverpool’s coaching staff
Arne Slot has failed to convince Marino Pusic to join as part of his coaching staff at Liverpool next season. That is according to The Athletic, which claims that Slot wanted to reunite with Pusic at Anfield. But the 52-year-old does not want to agree a backroom role on Merseyside.
Feyenoord boss Slot approached Pusic about joining Liverpool’s coaching staff with the 45-year-old expected to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer. Slot also aims to convince his head of performance, Ruben Peeters, and assistant coach, Sipke Hulshoff, to head to Merseyside.
Slot first worked with Pusic after he took over at AZ Alkmaar in July 2019 and also re-hired the Dutchman as his No2 after taking charge of Feyenoord in July 2021. But Pusic broke out on his own again in October 2023 as Shakhtar Donetsk offered the chance to be a manager.
Pusic had not been a head coach since he left FC Twente in May 2019 after only one season in charge permanently. So, the Mostar native does not now want to return to a No2 role so soon after taking over Shakhtar. He is keen to stay on as the manager of the Ukrainian club.
Read more about Slot’s interest in Pusic joining Liverpool’s coaching staff, here.
