Liverpool hope to announce the appointment of Jurgen Klopp as their new manager by the end of the week, according to reports.
A 1-1 draw with Everton at Goodison Park marked the end of Brendan Rodgers’ stint as Reds boss on Sunday, despite the result leaving them just three points adrift of their top-four target. But in reality the writing had been on the wall for the Northern Irishman, who had failed to build on the 2013/14 season in which he led the club to the brink of a first league title since 1990.
The departure of talisman Luis Suarez that summer was a monumental blow to Rodgers, who has witnessed a number of his expensive signings flop at Anfield. Mario Balotelli, who was signed from Milan for £16million following the departure of the Uruguayan international, best highlights this, and the controversial Italian was packed off back to the San Siro on loan in August.
It now looks likely that Klopp will be the man to succeed Rodgers in the hotseat, with reports suggesting he could be in place by the weekend. The German is on a sabbatical following his decision to quit Borussia Dortmund at the end of last season, and his first choice of succeeding Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich appears a non-starter as the Spaniard is to be offered a new contract.
Klopp, who won two league titles and took Dortmund to the UEFA Champions League final during his seven-year spell, is already prepared to return to work and is thought to be excited at the challenge posed by Liverpool. As the season is still in its early stages, the Merseyside club believe a top-four finish remains realistic, although a title bid is likely to be beyond their capability.
One issue which could be key to the speed in which the 48-year-old is appointed is the terms on how future transfers will be conducted. The former Mainz coach wants the full say on which players are brought into the squad, which is a departure from the current transfer panel system. But once this has been thrashed out, Klopp is expected to sign a three-year contract.
