Having hit a snag with Xabi Alonso, Liverpool are also likely to miss out on Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim. The young specialist who led the Lions to the title in Portugal is closing in on West Ham.
Thus, in recent days there has been talk of the sensational option of appointing Jose Mourinho in Klopp’s place because of his vast experience in the Premier League, and his indisputable successes in general.
The majority of Reds fans, of course, take these rumors at face value, but ex-Liverpool player Dietmar Hamann does not rule out this being a good move.
He was asked what he thought of the Special One taking over the team in the short term and whether he wouldn’t be afraid of the challenge of succeeding Klopp:
“I love Mourinho. He won’t be embarrassed if he takes over after Jurgen. There may be managers who turn down the job, saying ‘this is my dream job, but succeeding Klopp is simply impossible’. We saw what happened in Manchester United after Fergie when he left.
The more I think about it, the more I can see how it could happen in a season or two.
Clubs make these five- or eight-year plans and finally the manager leaves after six months, so it’s a day-to-day business and you don’t know what’s going to happen in three years. If they bring him in and say: “Let the youngsters go and if we finish sixth next season, that will be good because in one or two years we will have a really good team with a lot of local players”, then everything will be fine.
But it doesn’t make sense to bring someone in for the next five years, sign players for over 100 million and then finish fifth or sixth – that’s unacceptable.
You need a figure who is big enough not to worry about the fact that he will follow Klopp. Someone who is successful and loved by people – not only at the football club but also in the city. From that point of view, the more I think it might not be the worst choice. But he must be told that the young have some role to play. I’m sure if they’re good enough he’ll give them game time.”
