Ruben Amorim Denies Liverpool Manager Agreement
Ruben Amorim, the head coach of Sporting Lisbon, has denied rumors that he has agreed to become Liverpool’s next manager. Reports earlier this week claimed that Amorim had verbally agreed to a contract to succeed Jurgen Klopp this summer. However, senior figures at Anfield have stated that there is no such agreement in place.
Amorim himself has now spoken out, refuting the claims. “I did not meet Liverpool for any interview and there’s no agreement — it’s not true,” he stated. “I’m Sporting manager, I want to win here and I didn’t meet any club. Nothing has been agreed. Stop with this story. This is the last time I speak about my future.”
The 39-year-old coach emerged as the favorite to take over from Klopp after Xabi Alonso decided to remain at Bayer Leverkusen. Currently, Amorim is on the verge of leading Sporting to the Portuguese title, with a four-point lead over city rivals Benfica and a game in hand.
Speculation about Amorim’s future has been growing, with many suggesting that he is a top target for Liverpool. The Athletic’s David Ornstein shared his insight on the matter, stating that conversations have taken place between Amorim and Liverpool. However, he also mentioned that there isn’t a clear frontrunner internally at Liverpool, as the club is going through a thorough process in their search for a new manager.
It is evident that Amorim is a highly sought-after coach, and he is expected to leave Sporting this summer. The Premier League seems to be his preferred destination, considering the available vacancies. However, it remains to be seen if Liverpool aligns with his aspirations and if they decide to pursue him. If Liverpool does make a move for Amorim, one interesting aspect to note is that one of his key staff members, Paulo Barreira, used to work for Liverpool as an injury prevention/conditioning expert.
While the exact figure is not confirmed, it has been reported that Sporting would require a fee of €10 million (£8.58 million; $10.9 million) for Amorim’s services. This figure is significantly lower than what Chelsea had to pay when they considered appointing him before ultimately choosing Graham Potter and then Mauricio Pochettino.
In conclusion, Ruben Amorim has categorically denied any agreement with Liverpool to become their next manager. Despite being a highly sought-after coach, the situation internally at Liverpool remains uncertain, and the club is conducting a thorough process in their search for a new manager. Amorim’s future is yet to be determined, but it is clear that he is a coach with immense potential in European football.