Gossip: Klopp, Ancelotti, Di Matteo, Pearson
Jurgen Klopp is favourite to replace Brendan Rodgers, but the transfer committee is staying. Carlo Ancelotti is next, but he’s still on sabbatical. Roberto Di Matteo is linked, but he’s Roberto Di Matteo. Oh, and Sunderland want a new manager, too.
SO, WHO’S IN LINE TO REPLACE BRENDAN?
The post-Brendan days are upon us and they are bleak. With the Northern Irishman’s sacking on Sunday however, Liverpool need someone to replace him. So here goes.
Predictably, Jurgen Klopp is the frontrunner for the post. The former Dortmund manager has been fluttering his eyelashes in Anfield’s direction ever since he began his sabbatical, and it’s believed that the Liverpool job will be enough to entice him back into football management. The Daily Telegraph are among those reporting that the German will be approached by the Reds in the coming days.
Some go a step further. The Daily Star claim that Klopp has already signed a three-year deal at the club and has even already chosen his assistant in former trusty lieutenant Zeljko Buvac. Their claims come from Bosnian website PravdaBL, who reported this ‘exclusive’ on Saturday, so a day before Rodgers was even sacked. They did claim the news ‘would go around the world’ on Sunday however, so there you go.
For what it’s worth, everyone is reporting that the club want to install Rodgers’ replacement by the time of their next game against Spurs on October 17.
ITALIAN JOB FOR ANCELOTTI?
Carlo Ancelotti is the second favourite for the vacant post and, according to the Daily Mail, the Italian flew into London from Italy this weekend to begin talks. They do report that Klopp is still the man FSG prefer, however.
On that note, the Telegraph throw a potential spanner in the works of the Klopp to the Kop business. They say the club’s American owners see Klopp as the ideal candidate, and, in the words of Chris Bascombe: ‘A decision on the next manager will be based on which of the candidates is most willing to work within Liverpool’s existing structure, and who believes they can get the most out of the existing squad.’
Basically, the transfer committee is staying. Which could be a problem for Klopp, as reports claimed a couple of weeks ago that he would demand the committee to be scrapped if he were to take the post.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNER LINKED WITH ‘POOL
This is glorious, glorious stuff from the Metro, via Sky Italia. The latter claim that while Klopp and Ancelotti are the obvious two candidates for the job, a third has emerged in Champions League winning coach Roberto Di Matteo.
It’s utterly bizarre considering Di Matteo’s only four posts in management are MK Dons (left for…), West Brom (sacked), Chelsea (sacked) and Schalke (resigned after struggling). He won the Champions League as caretaker boss at Stamford Bridge, but was sacked within months of being appointed permanently. Rafael Benitez replaced him; Chelsea’s last great manager.
ALLARDYCE DYCHE VIEIRA PEARSON
Sunderland lost their manager too, you know.
Difference is, there’s slightly less sexy names linked to the Stadium of Light post. Not only that, but pretty much everyone is reportedly ruling themselves out of replacing the outgoing Dick Advocaat. So says The Sun.
Their sources, in an exclusive from David Coverdale, claim that the unattached Sam Allardyce, Burnley boss Sean Dyche and Manchester City youth boss Patrick Vieira have all distanced themselves from the idea of taking over at Sunderland. Allardyce due to a lack of funds, Dyche due to the stability in his current post, and Vieira because he’s currently working for Manchester City.
Coverdale provides a ray of light however. Said ray of light comes in the form of ex-Leicester boss Nigel Pearson, who would supposedly be interested in the role.
AND THE REST
Manchester United have been urged to ‘stop sending in offers’ for Germany’s 26-year-old Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller.