Liverpool could face a battle with Premier League rivals Chelsea to secure the signature of Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim with Mauricio Pochettino still facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge.
EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC Football understands that, despite Thursday’s morale-boosting, Cole Palmer-inspired 4-3 triumph over Manchester United, Pochettino is far from guaranteed to still be at the helm when next season kicks off.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain boss, we reported earlier in the week, has some in the Chelsea squad fearing that he is not the right man to take the club forward. The Blues, still only tenth in the Premier League table, have also been looking at potential replacements since at least February.
And we can now reveal that, according to sources close to the London giants, Ruben Amorim is seen by Chelsea as the ideal successor should they decide to swing the axe on Pochettino.
Chelsea join Liverpool in Ruben Amorim pursuit
The 39-year-old is one of the most highly-rated young tacticians in Europe.
Despite his age, he also possesses plenty of experience at a high level, making his name at Braga before ending Sporting Lisbon’s two decade-long wait for Primeira Liga glory in 2021. His Sporting side are currently top of the table, too, inspired by the remarkable goalscoring exploits of ex-Coventry City talisman Viktor Gyokeres.
HITC understands that Amorim, a former Portugal international, is someone Chelsea’s hierarchy have admired ever since they took control of the once-Roman Abramovic-led club.
Liverpool are big fans of Amorim too, with Chelsea aware of the fact that he is also on the radar of the Anfield outfit. Liverpool, we have been told, have stepped up their interest of Amorim after learning that Xabi Alonso – initially their top target to replace Jurgen Klopp – would be staying at Bayer Leverkusen beyond the summer.
“Ruben (Amorim) is a coach with a lot of quality. One of the best in Portugal,” Fulham ace Joao Palhinha says of Amorim, who he worked with at both Braga and Sporting.
“He has done an excellent job. He has in-depth knowledge of the game and has a close relationship with the players. The way he is growing, he will not be in Portugal for much longer. He dreams and aspires to win another title with Sporting, and then the future will be in his hands.
“(Is Amorim) capable of coaching Liverpool? Yes, of course, although the pressure is different. When you coach a big Portuguese club, you have pressure from the fans and the size of the club itself, which forces you to win.
“When you coach Liverpool, you have pressure from the fans, the club, and the whole world. The way it is growing, I think it will be a matter of time (before Amorim is handed a very big job).”
Jurgen Klopp is leaving Anfield this summer
Amorim, when asked about his own future on Friday, was reluctant to make any Alonso-like promises over his commitment to Sporting.
“No, I can’t,” he said when asked if he’d still be in Lisbon next term. “First, we will win trophies and then we will see. We are on the right track.
“The future has been a long time in the making and we are outlining what it will be.
“I don’t want to dwell too much on the future. I owe a lot to Sporting and whatever has to happen will happen. But there will be no pressure to leave because I owe a lot to Sporting. I am very happy here.”
HITC also understands that Chelsea, irrespective of who is in the dugout, will be prioritising a centre-forward this summer. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is the top target, with Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez another under consideration.
The post Sources: Chelsea join Liverpool in chasing 'anti-Mourinho', 39-year-old may replace Pochettino appeared first on HITC.
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