by Liverpool could land Ruben Amorim for as little as £12.8million after Xabi Alonso confirmed he would not be succeeding Jurgen Klopp.
Telegraph Sport understands that the release clause in Amorim’s contract, which can be triggered at the end of this season, is €15 million.
The clause, agreed with Sporting Lisbon, drops to €10m (£8.5m) in the summer of 2025 – and its existence means it will be easier for Liverpool to agree a deal with the Portuguese club should they eventually decide to move on son the highly rated 39-year-old.
It was previously claimed in Portugal that the figure to release Amorim, who signed a new four-year contract in 2022, was much higher – around twice as high.
Telegraph Sport revealed on Thursday that Liverpool are zeroing in on other candidates as Alonso was deemed out of bounds.
Amorim appreciates his work in Portugal where he ended a 19-year wait for the title in his first full season with Sporting, who are on top again this season. The former Braga coach, who speaks English, also won the Portuguese domestic cup in three consecutive years.
Liverpool already know that the other strong contender being considered – Roberto De Zerbi – has an exit clause in his deal with Brighton and Hove Albion. It has been suggested that this sum is at least £12 million – an amount similar to what Liverpool would have to pay for Amorim but, again, hardly preventing a deal from being agreed.
Liverpool are looking at other candidates and are mulling a move for Julian Nagelsmann, whose current contract as coach of the German national team ends after Euro 2024, but he seems unlikely to take over at Anfield.
Fears about Alonso’s availability to replace Klopp were confirmed on Friday when he announced he will remain in charge of Bayer Leverkusen. The 42-year-old former Liverpool midfielder was considered the favorite to succeed Klopp following the German’s shock decision to quit the club at the end of the season.
But Alonso said: “I had a good meeting with Bayer Leverkusen and I told them that I will stay and continue at the club. After many discussions about my future, I used the break to reflect and make my decision. This is the place to be.”
Klopp had suggested Alonso was one of the independent candidates to replace him but said on Friday he could understand why the Spaniard decided to stay.
Klopp said: “It’s good to have a young manager at a club. I did much the same [stayed when first offered the chance to leave] and he never regretted it. He is doing a great job there. They have a great team and they can keep the team together. I understand why he wants to do that.”
Bayern Munich were also keen on Alonso as they looked for a successor to Thomas Tuchel, who will leave the club in the summer.
Alonso’s side are 10 points clear of Bayern with six games remaining, with Leverkusen poised to end the German giants’ 11-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga title.
Alonso said: “My job at Bayer is not over. I want to help the club, help develop the players, the board is great… it’s all great here. I am still a young coach but I think this is the best decision for my future. I took my time and I’m sure of that.
“I’m not going to comment on Liverpool or Bayern. These are big clubs and I have strong links with them but I am where I want to be. Now is not the time to decide my future – I want to develop at Bayer Leverkusen.”
Alonso is understood to feel indebted to Leverkusen for backing him in his first job as senior manager, wants to take them into the Champions League and also fears he could announce his departure now that the campaign they are in be terminated. going for their first German title.
Real Madrid will also take note of his decision to stay as they are interested in him when Carlo Ancelotti eventually leaves.
Klopp: De Zerbi is an excellent coach
Liverpool have appointed a new sporting director, Richard Hughes, who will take over in June, and Fenway Sports Group has reunited with former sporting director Michael Edwards, who is the American football chief executive. Both will ultimately be responsible for selecting a new manager.
The club’s data team is targeting coaches whose teams can win the ball high up the pitch – like Klopp – and whose teams suit the composition of the squad.
De Zerbi will take Brighton to Anfield next Sunday, with Klopp praising the Italian’s style of play. “It’s hard to play against them. They are super dominant, and you can’t do that without any training. You can’t put the line up on the wall and say ‘that’s how we play’,” he said.
“There is a lot of work behind that, a lot of convincing the players because it has changed a lot. The way the goalkeeper has to play, the way the centre-halves have to start the build-up, the way the six have to move, the way the 10s move, the wings, everybody.”
Klopp added: “And yes, that makes him a great coach, because of the impact he had. I met him three times [it is four] and he seems like a nice guy. That’s all I know about the man, but I’ve seen his football team play many times and I can say he’s a great coach.”
