Liverpool are edging closer to watching Jurgen Klopp head for the Anfield exit door for the very last time.
The next man to replace the German in the dugout will have an almighty task on his hands, with Roberto De Zerbi one of many names and managers being considered.
Sources have told HITC Football that Liverpool have the Brighton boss on their list, alongside the standout favourite Xabi Alonso.
Stephen Warnock feels someone like Roberto De Zerbi would be ideal for the Reds as he shared what ‘a lot of people’ have told him about the 44-year-old.
The former left-back has stated that people are questioning the defensive side of his team’s game and whether he can take that step up to an elite team in the Premier League, as he told The Football Show on Sky Sports.
With Virgil van Dijk at the back and Alisson Becker in between the sticks, then the in-demand coach would finally have elite players to work with.
Given that at Brighton, his top players are sold as soon as they perform, it would be interesting to see how he would cope much higher up.
Liverpool’s next manager
“I think, on paper, the two candidates for me, everyone is talking about Xabi Alonso because of what he is achieving at Bayer Leverkusen, at the moment,” said Warnock.
“I still think De Zerbi is on the radar as well. A lot of people I spoke to about this were saying that De Zerbi isn’t defensively as good or in the league position.
“But you haven’t got the ability to go out and pay big money for a van Dijk or an Alisson goalkeeper. Players of that next level up and it’s not being disrespectful to Brighton, but Liverpool are competing for the league title and they are usually in the Champions League places, so they have bigger money, big appeal and it’s easier to pick up the phone to players and get them to come to the club.
“I think that’s a difference as well, if De Zerbi came in, then his style of play would suit Liverpool. Everyone goes ‘what about the character?’ You aren’t going to get Jurgen Klopp again. It won’t happen.”
Jurgen Klopp’s job at Liverpool
In the eyes of Liverpool fans, he is a hero and a legend forever. He has written his name into the club’s history books.
But he can take it up by even more levels if the Reds win every trophy possible this season.
They have got the ball rolling already when they beat Chelsea in the League Cup final on Sunday and they have now been drawn against Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Add in the most important one of all – the Premier League title – and the Europa League, then the manner in which Klopp ends his tenure at Liverpool could be beyond historic.
And all that does is make the job of the individual who replaces him far, far more difficult.
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