Next Liverpool manager: Romano claims Reds haven’t even ‘made contact’ with target

Fabrizio Romano claims Liverpool haven’t even made contact with one of the favourites to be their next manager. It suggests they've got a very different plan in mind.

Fabrizio Romano understands that Liverpool never actually made contact over Roberto De Zerbi. That's not the case with Ruben Amorim, however - the Reds did ask for information on the Sporting CP boss.

De Zerbi has long been one of the favourites to take over from Jurgen Klopp this year. In fact, only Xabi Alonso was ahead of him in the bookies' guessing back when Klopp made his announcement.

It's one that makes sense, after all. De Zerbi has turned Brighton into a very impressive team and one Liverpool themselves struggle against.

His work with a limited budget, coupled with losing his best players, has been outstanding. Brighton's way of playing, too, earns praise from all corners.

And plenty of reliable outlets have mentioned that De Zerbi is on Liverpool's long list - essentially, the group from which they're studying their options. But the Athletic did mention early last month that the Italian was unlikely to make the eventual shortlist.

That now appears to be the case. Romano suggests Liverpool have started making moves towards their new manager but those moves don't seem to include any towards De Zerbi.

Romano on next Liverpool manager

“Liverpool didn’t make contact with Roberto De Zerbi but they had direct contact to be informed on Ruben Amorim’s situation; contract clauses, what’s going on, what are the ideas of the manager in terms of his future," Romano wrote in his Daily Briefing. "But Ruben Amorim has been very clear. No interview took place.

“Some reports say that he had an interview at that meeting with Liverpool. No. And also, he said no agreement. Nothing has been agreed. And this is real from what I’m hearing.

“As soon as Ruben Amorim will communicate his future to Sporting, he will be open to enter into direct discussions with potential clubs."

With that, it sounds as though Liverpool are pressing forward on their candidates and that Amorim is firmly one of them. That's not a shock, of course, but De Zerbi not being one is a surprise.

It seems that no matter what, the Reds won't be hiring Brighton's boss.