Liverpool Next Manager: PL competition for Amorim amid 'verbal agreement' claim

Liverpool could face competition for top managerial target Ruben Amorim in the form of Premier League rivals Chelsea, according to reports.

Ever since Xabi Alonso's decision to remain at Bayer Leverkusen, 39-year-old Sporting CP boss Amorim has become the clear frontrunner to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager next season.

The Portuguese coach is highly rated for his work in his homeland, where he won the league title in 2020/21 and has three League Cups to his name.

This season, Sporting CP could yet finish the campaign with a league and cup double, while Amorim has been credited with his work in developing stars like Goncalo Inacio, Ousmane Diomande and Viktor Gyokeres.

According to the latest reports, Liverpool have already held talks with Amorim's representatives and even put an offer of a three-year deal on the table.

While the Reds are the clear frontrunners in any race for the former midfielder, there could be other interested parties ready to enter the race, with a host of Europe's top clubs also making managerial changes this summer.

Chelsea admire Amorim

Bayern Munich and Barcelona have previously been suggested as possible competitors for Amorim, while HITC are among those to claim that Chelsea see Amorim as an "ideal successor" to the under-pressure Mauricio Pochettino.

Their report claims that the Portuguese has been admired by the Chelsea hierarchy "ever since they took control" of the club in 2022 and could make a move if they decide to sack Pochettino.

However, Chelsea's interest may well be too little too late, with Liverpool clearly already at a much further stage of the process and a much more appealing proposition given the Blues' lack of Champions League football and messy squad.

Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano has also recently reported that the Reds are the only side with a 'concrete interest' in Amorim currently.

Verbal agreement

Meanwhile, Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg has claimed there is already a 'verbal agreement in principle' between Amorim and Liverpool following talks, while also referencing Chelsea and Bayern interest.

The reporter reiterates claims of a three-year deal, while adding that 'final negotiations' with Sporting CP are still to be completed in order for the deal to go ahead.

This claim of an agreement has since been refuted by multiple outlets.

For his part, Amorim has remained cryptic on his future, while not ruling out the possibility of an end-of-season exit from the club he joined in 2020.

He recently replied when asked about his future: "I always want to answer but there are things I can't answer.

"Last year we came in fourth place and I thought I had to do something different, it couldn't be the same.”