Sign up for Miguel Delaney’s free Reading the Game newsletter delivered straight to your inbox
Sign up for Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Barcelona are fighting to secure the appointment of Ruben Amorimknowing that he has now become the first choice for a series of major European clubs.
The Catalan club were considered the favorites of the Sporting Lisbon coach until last week, when it was revealed that Xabi Alonso would be stay at Bayer Leverkusen for another season.
The widespread feeling among industry figures working directly in this summer’s frenzied manager market was that Amorim would go to Barcelona and Alonso to one of the Liverpool or Bayern Munich, with the Anfield club more likely to sign the Basque tactician.
Alonso had been the exceptional choice for a number of clubsand one of the reasons why Barcelona were more concerned about acquiring Amorim was because they felt he was more accessible with so much attention being paid to the Bayer Leverkusen manager.
Yet Sporting’s high release clause, believed to be around €13m (£11.1m), was one of the few reasons why nothing had yet been confirmed.
This has now changed dramatically, with clubs that prioritized Alonso now turning to Amorim. Although the Portuguese downplayed their interest last week, he has become the preferred target of many European clubs.
Liverpool had long considered him the next best choice after Xabi Alonsoalthough it is understood that the recent appointment of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes to technical roles has brought some change in the club’s thinking at Anfield.
With the role of a ‘head coach’ to succeed Jurgen Klopp being slightly reinterpreted, it could mean they are more flexible.
Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi and Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi are part of an expanded roster at Anfield.
Ruben Amorim is being considered by Liverpool and Barcelona
(Getty)
Julian Nagelsmann is also enjoying greater consideration from a number of clubs, as it was announced that the German national team manager is set to return to club management after Euro 2024.
Bayern Munich are once again interested in a coach they sacked just a year ago. Nagelsmann is also of increasing interest to Manchester United, if they decide to do without Erik ten Hag.