Pep Lijnders is a ‘serious option’ to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
That is according to James Pearce, who exclusively covers Liverpool for The Athletic.
The German manager has previously claimed that he’d quit his role at Anfield by the summer of 2024.
And Pearce, speaking to the Red Agenda podcast, revealed that Fenway Sports Group could legitimately hire his Dutch assistant as Klopp’s successor going forward.
He said: “Liverpool do like that continuity, don’t they? And I think that’s why we’ve talked before about [how] Pep Lijnders is a very serious option to take over if Klopp does go in 2024, because he gives you that continuity.
Good successor?
Well, whoever replaces Klopp has a nigh-on impossible job on their hands.
However, Pearce does raise a good point about continuity.
Lijnders is a figure well liked and well respected inside the Liverpool dressing room already.
Only a couple of weeks ago we saw him orchestrating the celebrations after Klopp’s troops won the Carabao Cup.
A manager’s first job is to get the players on his side and with Lijnders already having personal relationships within the changing room, you could argue that he would start from solid foundations.
Obviously the success Klopp has had at Liverpool isn’t only about his relations with the players and encompasses tactics and signings, neither of which Lijnders has any experience in at this level.
However, if the Reds’ hierarchy think that he could be a good fit then that has to be respected.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
