- Liverpool could land Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim relatively cheaply
- The Reds seek Jurgen Klopp’s replacement, with Xabi Alonso ruling himself out
- Why Roberto De Zerbi should be in the running to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Liverpool could prise Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim to their dugout for a relatively cheap price, according to a new report.
Jurgen Klopp is stepping aside as the Reds manager in the summer after nine years at Anfield, and potential replacement Xabi Alonso confirmed on Friday that he will be staying put at Bayer Leverkusen rather than changing jobs.
With Brighton‘s Roberto De Zerbi and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann among the options being considered by Liverpool, there are many options available as the Merseyside club look at how to move on from the Klopp era.
And The Telegraph report that the Sporting Lisbon coach could cost just €15m – or £12.8m – to sign this summer, as that is the release clause in 39-year-old Amorim’s deal with the Portuguese club.
If they waited until the summer of 2025, that price would drop to €10m, or £8.5m, which also allows Liverpool some movement on a potential deal.
Liverpool could bring Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim to the club relatively cheaply
Amorim is the leading candidate, but hiring him will not be an easy or a quick process
It is understood that the Reds like the Sporting boss, though hiring him will not be easy nor a quick process, and no official offers have been tabled so far.
Amorim signed a new four-year deal with Sporting in 2022, and won the title with the team last season, ending their 19-year wait for the top flight trophy in Portugal.
Sporting are also topping the tree so far in this campaign, while they have won Portugal’s domestic cup three years in a row.
The release clause to get De Zerbi away from Brighton is also thought to be at least £12m, whilst Nagelsmann’s current deal with Germany expires at the conclusion of Euro 2024.
Speaking earlier on Friday about his decision to stay with the German league leaders, Alonso said: ‘There has been a lot of speculation around my future, we have been busy and focused and I wanted the international break to reflect a bit better.
Xabi Alonso confirmed he will stay at Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen beyond this season
‘I had a very good meeting with the decision makers, and I decided to stay at Bayer Leverkusen. I feel this is the right place to develop as a coach. I have to feel it, and right now I feel this is the right place… my job is not over here.’
Klopp admitted that he understands Alonso‘s decision to remain at Bayer Leverkusen, revealing: ‘I had a similar situation and did pretty much the same and never regretted it. That’s pretty much everything I can say.
‘Xabi is doing an incredible job there. Leverkusen has a really good team and could keep the team together next season.
‘It doesn’t happen every year like that. I understand that he wants to do that.’
