Liverpool still looking at other candidates despite big Ruben Amorim claims

Liverpool are still in the process of due diligence on a number of managerial candidates, despite reports that have claimed the club are closing in on Ruben Amorim.

Following Xabi Alonso's decision to remain at Bayer Leverkusen, Amorim's name shot to the top of the list of bookies' favourites to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool this summer.

The 39-year-old Sporting CP coach comes highly rated, having won the Primeira Liga and three Taca de Liga trophies in Portugal, while he could well earn more honours by the end of 2023/24.

Widespread reports this week claimed that Liverpool have now reached out to the former midfielder's representatives about a switch, while some claim that the Reds have already made an offer of a three-year deal.

How close is an Amorim deal?

Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg even asserted that a 'verbal agreement' was in place, suggesting the deal is imminent. One bookie even suspended betting on Amorim to Liverpool.

However, that particular claim from Plettenberg has been widely refuted, while others have reported that the deal is nowhere near as developed.

Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda has denied that Amorim has had any direct contact with Liverpool yet and, while the coach has a contract offer worth double his Sporting CP salary on the table, there is no agreement yet.

Along with direct talks with Amorim, the Reds would need to speak with Sporting CP to agree the terms of the move. It is thought that Liverpool would need to pay around €10m to free Amorim from his current contract.

Meanwhile, the Athletic's James Pearce has maintained that Liverpool's managerial search is even less advanced, insisting the club have not offered Amorim the job and are still in the process of assessing candidates.

He wrote on X: "Amorim clearly a strong contender for #LFC job but senior club sources adamant he hasn't been offered the job, no verbal agreement etc. Club still doing due diligence around a number of viable candidates."

If not Amorim then who?

With Alonso now out of contention, the landscape of serious candidates still to be assessed beyond Amorim appears sparse.

Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi has been a name regularly suggested, but recent reports have talked down the Italian's viability.

Germany's Julian Nagelsmann is seen as another possible contender, though there has been talk that he would not relish taking over from Klopp at Anfield.

The likes of Thiago Motta (Bologna), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Franck Haise (Lens) are among the rank outsiders suggested in recent weeks.