The Merseyside club had originally planned to appoint Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso as their manager at the end of the season. However, Alonso committed to staying with the Bundesliga side for another year, leaving Sporting’s Ruben Amorim as the leading candidate for the position. Following Sporting’s 2-1 win over Benfica, Amorim’s team is making a strong push for the title.
Amorim has a release clause set at around £25.7 million for Portuguese clubs, and just over £17 million for other European teams. However, reports suggest that Liverpool may benefit from a discount, with Amorim verbally agreeing to a fee of just £8.5 million if offered a position by a ‘top club’. Amorim has been praised for the style of football he has implemented since taking over Sporting in 2020.
After the weekend’s significant victory, he was mysterious when asked about the possibility of staying in Portugal for a second title. He stated, “I always want to answer but there are things I can’t answer. Last year we came in fourth place and I thought I had to do something different, it couldn’t be the same.”
If Amorim accepts the Liverpool job, he will face the significant challenge of following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp, who left a lasting legacy at the club during his eight-and-a-half-year tenure. Despite the prestige of the club and the attractive financial package, Amorim’s decision remains uncertain. Other potential candidates for the Liverpool job include Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel, who will also be available at the end of the season.
Nevertheless, Amorim is currently the frontrunner, and negotiations with Liverpool are expected to begin soon.