Liverpool are still keeping their cards close to their chest as they hunt for a new manager.
Some supporters might have expected the Reds to have made a decision by now, privately at least. There are less than five weeks of the season to go after all.
Nevertheless, the latest reports suggest that they’re still whittling down their final shortlist. Ruben Amorim appears to be the favourite, although other, unspecified, names seem to be in the mix, too.
It has been a little while since we’ve seen a different manager given credible links with Liverpool, mind you. Julian Nagelsmann had felt like a possibility, but he looks all set to re-join Bayern Munich instead.
Still, there was another name closely associated with the German giants circulating in regards to the job at Anfield this weekend. It was one that caught just about everyone off guard.
Niko Kovac rumours assessed
Aside from the obvious candidates, there have been some slightly left-field suggestions put forward as possible managers for Liverpool. Lens’ Franck Haise was one, with the Reds apparently fans of his ability to upset the odds with a team fighting off richer clubs.
Another, possibly even more bizarre link was to recently sacked Wolfsburg head coach Niko Kovac. The Croat, who was relieved of his duties just last month, would not appear to have anything like the resume to be considered by Liverpool.
And that’s why, according to journalist Dean Jones for Give Me Sport, the suggestions he could take over at Anfield were ‘odd.’ Instead, Jones says that Amorim is Liverpool’s pick, with the Reds ‘confident’ of landing the Sporting boss.
“The stories about Kovac seemed a little odd because, at the moment, there is no sign or reason as to why Liverpool would actually need a back-up plan,” says the reporter. “I do think there is confidence in finding an agreement over making Amorim their manager, but there has always been an acceptance that it would not be sorted out fast.
“As far as I am aware, nothing has gone wrong with early contacts and this is a case of sorting details around him becoming the next manager,” Jones added.
“The fact he is keen on moving to Liverpool as his next step is key and, while there is no actual agreement yet reached, this will soon move on to the next stage of talks when Liverpool’s contact with Sporting becomes active.”
Who is Niko Kovac
Having been Bayern manager for a season-and-a-bit, Kovac has experience of being at an elite club. But although he won the league and cup double in 2019, his time at the Allianz Arena was not considered a success.
Since then, the former Croatia international has taken charge at Monaco and Wolfsburg. He didn’t last more than two years in either job. Kovac did have a successful spell with Eintracht Frankfurt prior to joining Bayern, winning the German Cup.
Perhaps somewhat thankfully then, Kovac has already moved to deny rumours he could take over at Liverpool this summer.
“There’s always a lot written about it, but there’s nothing to it,” he told ServusTV yesterday via Kronen Zeitung. Let’s get Amorim tied up then, and put an end to these kinds of stories.