Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim has surfaced as the leading contender to fill the managerial vacancy at Liverpool, following Xabi Alonso’s decision to remain at Bayer Leverkusen, according to the Daily Mail.
Alonso was once considered a strong candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp, who is departing Anfield at the end of the season.
Bayern Munich also expressed interest in bringing their former player back as a successor to the departing Thomas Tuchel.
However, the former Liverpool midfielder is now expected to stay with Leverkusen, the team he has guided to the cusp of their first Bundesliga title in his first full season as manager.
After spending three years in charge of Real Sociedad’s B team, Alonso made the move to Leverkusen in October 2022, when the team was languishing in the bottom half of the Bundesliga table.
The 42-year-old managed to orchestrate a remarkable turnaround, securing Europa League qualification in his debut season with Leverkusen.
In his second season, Leverkusen have remained undefeated in all competitions and is poised to end Bayern’s 11-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga title.
The Daily Mail claims that “the bombshell leaves Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim as the leading candidate, alongside Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi.
“Amorim, 39, is expected to be given an interview after he scored well on Liverpool’s data tests.”
It is believed that Sporting would demand a world-record fee in compensation and this will be around £25million if any club wanted to poach Amorim.
The prospective move for Ruben Amorim to Liverpool would surpass the previous record set by Julian Nagelsmann, who was also considered an option for the Reds.
Nagelsmann was enticed to Bavaria from RB Leipzig for a fee of £21.7 million.
Amorim still has two years left on his current contract in Lisbon. The 39-year-old has garnered significant recognition across Europe for his achievements with Sporting CP.
Amorim has guided Sporting to one Portuguese league title and two League Cup honours, in addition to one with SC Braga.
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