A former Bayern Munich boss' agents have reportedly been in contact with Liverpool, and the tactician would be very keen to replace Arne Slot.
Liverpool prepare for Merseyside derby with Europe at stake
The reigning Premier League champions, beaten 4-0 on aggregate by PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, are also out of the Carabao Cup, out of the FA Cup and watching the title race from a distance.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot-3
Securing fifth place is now the only meaningful target left on Slot's horizon, and even that is not settled.
Slot heads into the final weeks of the campaign having acknowledged the transitional nature of this squad, pointing to the necessity of selling players before additions can be made this summer (Sky Sports).
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson leave on free transfers when the season ends, with the latter potentially on his way to Spurs if they don't get relegated, while the former has been heavily tipped for a Saudi move.
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The Anfield side are in pole position.
The Reds are seemingly about to enter a transition phase, and despite Fabrizio Romano confirming that Liverpool have no immediate plans to sack Slot, pressure on the Dutchman will surely intensify if they don't finish the season strongly.
Amid links with former Anfield favourite Xabi Alonso, another potential replacement for Slot has now entered the fray.
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That name is Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann.
As per TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey, intermediaries representing him have made contact with Liverpool, making the club aware of his availability and ambitions for a move to England.
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Nagelsmann, 38, has one of the most impressive CVs in Europe for a coach of his age.
He developed Hoffenheim, transformed RB Leipzig and won the Bundesliga at Bayern Munich, before taking charge of the German national team in 2023.
TEAMtalk state that while five clubs have been approached, including Liverpool, none of them insist managerial changes are currently planned, and most are yet to follow up on the contact from Nagelsmann's side.
The Liverpool angle is the most intriguing given the circumstances.
A move to Anfield would be of 'serious interest' to Nagelsmann if the club decided to make a change after this season's end-of-season review.
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Romano said earlier this week that a comprehensive review is planned that will cover summer recruitment alongside an assessment of Slot's position — though Romano was also clear that the Dutchman has felt supported throughout the season and has not been placed under pressure from above.
For now, Nagelsmann is fixed on the World Cup, preparing Germany for what he hopes will be a run at a fifth world title this summer.
However, England remains the destination that the 'genius' manager's camp are pointing towards beyond that.
Whether Liverpool, having conducted their review, decide they are looking for someone new — or whether Slot is given another opportunity to rebuild — will be one of the central storylines of the summer at Anfield.
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The Dutchman is already under mounting pressure.