Sporting Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly the latest name to appear on Liverpool's list of possible replacements for Jurgen Klopp.
The end of the season will also mark the end of a golden era for Liverpool and Klopp, who is stepping down from his post after nearly nine years at the Anfield helm.
Klopp delivered the stunning news in an interview with Liverpool media last Friday, claiming that his energy reserves were running too low for him to continue in the role any longer, despite penning a contract extension until 2026 a couple of years ago.
As Liverpool compete for an unprecedented quadruple in the remaining months of the Klopp era, the powers-that-be - who have known of his intentions since November - are working around the clock to vet managers capable of stepping into the German's shoes.
Bayer Leverkusen head coach and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is the undisputed favourite for the job, but Liverpool could face competition from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid for the Spaniard's signature.
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In addition, Leverkusen are said to be optimistic of retaining Alonso's services for the 2024-25 season, and Liverpool are not putting all of their managerial eggs in one basket in case a move for their number one target does not bear fruit.
According to Portuguese outlet CM Jornal, Amorim has also attracted glances from the Reds on account of his stellar work with Sporting, whom he has been in charge of March 2020 after leaving Braga.
The 39-year-old - who only retired from playing in 2017 - won the 2019-20 Taca da Liga with Braga before making the switch to Lisbon, where he led Sporting to a Primeira Liga and Taca de Portugal double in the 2020-21 campaign.
Amorim has since added another Taca da Liga and Portuguese Super Cup honour to his CV and has taken charge of 190 matches for Sporting in total, amassing an impressive 133 wins alongside 27 draws and 30 losses.
This season, Sporting have taken 49 points from their opening 19 Primeira Liga fixtures to sit at the summit of the table - one point clear of Benfica - and they will face Young Boys in the Europa League knockout round playoffs.
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Amorim's contract with Sporting does not expire for another two-and-a-half years, but the report adds that there is a release clause in his deal, allowing him to join a Premier League club for a €20m (£17.1m) fee.
The 39-year-old is said to have labelled English football one of his "passions", but it remains to be seen whether Liverpool would fork out such a hefty amount for a coach who is not at the top of their shortlist.
In addition to Amorim and Alonso, Liverpool have been linked with another youthful coach in Germany's Julian Nagelsmann, whose contract with the DFB only runs until the end of Euro 2024 and is unlikely to be extended if Die Mannschaft under-perform this summer.
Former Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has been out of work since 2021, but he is not thought to be a priority for Liverpool and has had his eye on managing France during his time away from the dugout.
Ben Knapton
