Why Liverpool can now block Barcelona from hiring Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool can reportedly block Barcelona from hiring Jurgen Klopp this summer. The German boss is in high demand.

Sport claims that Jurgen Klopp sits at the top of Barcelona's list of preferred managers this summer. Xavi announced last month that he was stepping down at the end of the season, much as the German will from Liverpool.

And while Xavi is not reportedly on Liverpool's own list, Klopp is the first choice of Barca president Joan Laporta. However, it's incredibly difficult for them to get him.

Klopp actually has time left on his Liverpool contract but an agreement with the Reds allows him to leave early. That agreement includes the boss sticking to his promise for a year out of the game.

Essentially, Liverpool just don't want him breaking the contract early in order to join someone else. They'd be due an awful lot of money in that case but they're happy to give him the deserved break from the game.

Thus if Barcelona want to hire Klopp this year, they must receive permission from Liverpool to do so. It's highly unlikely that they'd get that permission.

The Reds have no reason at all to allow a Champions League rival to hire Klopp, even if Barcelona offer to pay. There's an outside chance they agree for him to join the German national team - but even then, they may demand payment.

What might happen here, then, is that Laporta and Barcelona hire a new manager on a one-year contract. Then they could comfortably gauge Klopp's interest in 2025 and see if he's willing to join them after his sabattical.

Otherwise, there's essentially no chance that Laporta gets his man. A long-term contract for any new boss would rule him out, unless they were happy to fire the new hire mid-contract.

It'll be interesting to see how this one develops, then. Klopp to Barca won't happen this year, but it's one to watch going forward. Not that they'll be the only ones gunning for the German next year.