A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as the Reds speak with representatives of a Premier League boss and Wayne Rooney gives a warning on replacing Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool mark Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho as their top transfer target
Liverpool have marked Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho as their top target for the summer transfer window. That is according to Gianluca Di Marzio, who reports that Anfield chiefs are desperate to deliver the 22-year-old for whoever takes over as their new manager.
The Reds are loath to wait until they have appointed a replacement for Jurgen Klopp before establishing their off-season plans. Liverpool also feel Pacho has the ideal profile to be their new, left-footed centre-half. Virgil van Dijk has been their only reliable defender this season.
Pacho only joined Die Adler from Royal Antwerp last July as the Bundesliga side sought their replacement for Evan Ndicka. Yet the 10-cap Ecuador international has already registered 40 appearances and has started in each. Pacho has only failed to play in three fixtures, as well.
Read more about Liverpool’s interest in a transfer for Eintracht star Pacho, here.
Liverpool have explored Brentford boss Thomas Frank as a successor for Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool have studied hiring Brentford boss Thomas Frank as a successor for Jurgen Klopp in charge at Anfield this summer. That is according to Tipsbladet, which reports that a move for Feyenoord coach Arne Slot is the Reds’ first objective but Frank is firmly in the running.
Anfield chiefs have mulled a move to appoint Frank for a long time and have held talks with his representatives. The Reds admire what the Dane could offer on Merseyside having done an excellent job with limited resources since guiding the Bees to promotion to the top-flight.
Frank has stayed in charge at the Gtech Community Stadium since October 2018. The 50-year-old stepped up from his No2 role to replace Dean Smith and he has since overseen 270 games in all competitions. He has also won 116 games and drawn 62 with 446 goals scored.
Read more about Liverpool’s interest in Frank replacing Klopp as their manager, here.
Wayne Rooney sends Liverpool a ‘difficult’ warning about replacing Jurgen Klopp
Everton and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has warned Liverpool that their star players will find it ‘difficult’ to adjust to life under a manager who is not Jurgen Klopp. Their search for the German’s successor is still ongoing with Klopp stepping down in the summer.
Not one player from Klopp’s first Liverpool XI is still at Anfield as he overhauled their entire squad. The German replaced Brendan Rodgers in charge back in October 2015. Klopp has secured 47 signings at Liverpool since and brought through a raft of academy gems, too.
So, Rooney expects the Reds will face challenges as they go from a coach their entire squad only know about playing under at Liverpool in Klopp to an unknown manager. It will be a huge step into new territory for a club that at one point was trying to win a quadruple this season.
“I think Jurgen Klopp is almost like a father to a lot of those players,” Rooney told Sky Sports during its post-game coverage of the Merseyside derby.
“For those players now to go from Jurgen Klopp to whoever the next manager may be, it’s going to be completely different. It’s not going to be the same as under Jurgen Klopp. So, I think players will find that difficult.”
Read more about what Rooney has warned Liverpool about life after Klopp, here.