Shock claims of Jurgen Klopp managerial return prompts swift response from Liverpool legend's agent
Jurgen Klopp's agent has denied reports suggesting the legendary former Liverpool manager is set to return to management with Roma.
Roma is searching for a new manager, with interim boss Claudio Ranieri set to leave at the end of the season, and it had been suggested by Italian outlet La Stampa that Klopp had said yes to the offer of replacing the former Leicester manager.
However, speaking to Qatar-based Winwin Sports, Klopp's agent Mark Kosicke said: 'Reports on Klopp becoming new AS Roma manager are not true.'
READ MORE: Arne Slot confirms Liverpool star won't play again this season after missing Brighton game
READ MORE: 3 transfers Liverpool can target after Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez
Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool at the end of last season and has been working for the Red Bull Group since January 1, but reports continue to link him with a return to the dugout.
It was reported last month that Real Madrid was interested in appointing Jurgen Klopp as Carlo Ancelotti's replacement ahead of the 2025-26 season, but he is believed to have rejected that chance — that job is now expected to go to former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.
When Klopp's departure from Liverpool was announce in January 2024, he said he did not envisage that he would occupy a managerial role again.
"If you ask me, 'Will you ever work as a manager again?' I would say now no," Klopp said. "But I don't know obviously how that will feel because I never had the situation. What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool."
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Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Liverpool Have Scheduled Talks Today with Bayer Leverkusen to Finalise Florian Wirtz Move
Florian Wirtz to Liverpool: A Bold Move Shaping the Reds' New Era In what could become the most seismic transfer of the summer—and the biggest in German football history—Liverpool appear to be closing in on the stunning signing of Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz. Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, speaking to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, has shed new light on the Reds' pursuit of the Bundesliga sensation, with detailed insights on how the deal is unfolding behind the scenes. Advertisement This is a move packed with significance. More than just a statement of intent, it marks a new era under Arne Slot, fresh from winning the Premier League in his debut season at Anfield. With Michael Edwards back in the football operations hot seat, it's clear Liverpool are not only rebuilding but redefining their ambitions. Wirtz Chooses Anfield Over Allianz According to Tavolieri, Florian Wirtz made a decisive move by 'calling Bayern Munich and Vincent Kompany to thank them for their interest', indicating his clear preference for Liverpool. That single call underlines the magnetic pull Anfield has regained under its new structure and leadership. With Manchester City once thought to be the frontrunners, this is a dramatic twist. Advertisement 'It was Wirtz who took the decision to go away and want to win something,' Tavolieri said, pointing out that the player, not the clubs, shifted the direction of the deal. Despite Manchester City's strong position and advanced talks, Wirtz reportedly 'hesitated on that', a hesitation that now seems to have opened the door for Liverpool. This willingness to shun Germany's dominant power and England's treble winners is a major coup, not just for Liverpool but for the Premier League narrative as a whole. Edwards Returns with a Masterstroke Key to this developing saga is the figure of Michael Edwards, the architect of Liverpool's previous golden era. Tavolieri explained that 'Edwards put in so much work to convince FSG on the deal in terms of media, image and symbol.' That phrase—media, image and symbol—says it all. Advertisement Wirtz is more than just a gifted midfielder. He is an emblem of the next generation of footballing icons. Signing him signals a long-term strategy, blending technical brilliance with commercial magnetism. Edwards is already believed to be 'speaking and looking to plan instalments on the deal', reflecting a structured financial approach. That's typical of Liverpool's modern strategy: bold, but calculated. Photo: IMAGO Leverkusen Happy to Sell—But Not to Rivals Tavolieri's report also revealed why Liverpool may have gained an advantage: 'Leverkusen never wanted to sell him to a rival, so they are very happy to make this call with Liverpool.' In this context, a move to Bayern was never straightforward. City had their salary cap limitations. But Liverpool offered something different—an exciting new project, led by a title-winning manager and backed by data-driven football minds. Advertisement Tavolieri added: 'It has never been straightforward. It's important to understand that Leverkusen were so far with Man City. There were no doubts that they would win the race.' And yet, here we are, on the brink of one of the most unexpected and exciting signings in modern football. 'When Wirtz went to Man City, Pep Guardiola wasn't there. When he went to Liverpool, Arne Slot was there and they convinced him. It was strange to them.' 'From now it will be much more smooth because they were already talking about Wirtz whilst finalising the Jeremie Frimpong deal.' What Wirtz Brings to the Reds Still only 21, Florian Wirtz is regarded as one of the most intelligent, versatile, and creative players in Europe. 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Advertisement Michael Edwards returning was the first sign that FSG were willing to do things differently. But getting Wirtz, ahead of Bayern and City, would be proof that Liverpool are now the top table's kingmakers again. It's symbolic, it's strategic, and it's sensational. Credit to Sacha Tavolieri for breaking the story and to Anfield Index for giving fans insight into the finer details. If Wirtz steps onto the Anfield turf this summer, the message is clear: Liverpool are back, and they mean business.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
How Premier League transfers really work in 2025 – and are rules being broken?
Many of us have signed a footballer in our time. We've approached their club, negotiated a fee, spoken to the player's representatives, agreed personal terms, crossed our fingers for good news about the medical and finally completed the deal. But while Football Manager and other simulators might offer a representation of how transfers would work if everyone stuck to the letter of the rules, in the real world, these moves effectively happen in reverse. Advertisement 'It happens in the other direction,' an experienced football agent tells The Athletic. 'I dare say there's probably five per cent of clubs in the world that do it that (correct) way. The other 95 per cent always agree the player's deal in advance, or certainly the majority of the player's deal. 'Virtually no one is bidding for a player anymore without already knowing that they're going to come to their football club, or have a strong interest in signing for that club.' 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The sporting director we talked to says he has often been approached by agents in recent years proposing clients of theirs as possible signings, but that very few of those suggestions are taken further. 'I can't think of any times where there's been a player put to me that's been better than the players on our shortlist, or that we didn't already know was available,' he says. 'Now and again, you might get the one put to you that you didn't think would be feasible or didn't think you could afford and that can be interesting but, nine times out of 10, the players put to you by agents are below the standard of the ones already on your shortlist.' Clubs are not allowed to contact players who are under contract elsewhere, either directly or through their representatives, without written permission from the individual's current employers, according to Premier League rules. 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The Premier League has the power to investigate an illegal approach even if no complaint has been received, but any investigation would depend on enough information and evidence being available. 'Really, it's the way it's always worked,' says the agent. 'Very occasionally, a club might complain about it if they're going for promotion or trying to stay in a league and they think their player is being unsettled. But almost all of the time, they do nothing because they know they're going to do the same thing themselves in the next transfer window, and people in glass houses can't throw stones.' The rules remain in place, but clubs don't kick up a stink if they're being broken, so governing bodies don't sanction, and working around them has become accepted practice to help the transfer system run smoothly. Much of the groundwork for any transfer is done before sporting directors at the buying clubs get fully involved, with a modern recruitment team's responsibilities stretching beyond studying potential signings and compiling reports on them. 'They watch the players, then they will draw up their shortlist for a centre-forward, for example, and present that to me,' says the sporting director. 'It will contain everything in terms of the possible cost of the deal, and they won't present a player to me if they don't know the player is interested — or at least think he might be interested. Advertisement 'So at that stage, I will know that a player is interested, what the approximate salary is going to be and probably the approximate transfer fee. Even though nothing is finalised, I would say those presentations are usually accurate to about 85 or 90 per cent.' 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'But clubs will often have six or seven plates spinning for any one position. They might have the same conversations with six or seven players, then they will decide which one best suits them and best fits their budget. So a lot of the time, things won't go any further than those conversations and no one will ever find out about them.' Once those discussions are completed and a club has decided on their preferred target, the sporting director and the player's agent will attempt to come to a deal in principle on personal terms — wages, bonuses, et cetera. While, according to the rules, clubs should agree a transfer fee before the team doing the buying ever speak to the player involved, in 2025, the official bid is normally the final part of the process. Clubs want a high level of confidence a deal can be completed before lodging a bid with the player's current employers. And negotiations on transfer fees can sometimes be little more than a formality. Advertisement The player's agent, in an effort to make a deal as smooth as possible, will often obtain an 'asking price' from a selling club to pass on to would-be buyers, so suitors will know roughly where to pitch their opening offer. Clubs, however, tend to take such information with a pinch of salt. 'They give us a figure, which is never right, because they want to have us interested,' says the sporting director. 'It's almost always a bit lower than the club actually want. To be honest, whenever I get a figure like that, I normally add about 15 per cent to try to get to a realistic figure.' Negotiations over a fee can still involve much to and fro, especially if a club are reluctant sellers, or if more than one potential buyer is on the scene, at which point a bidding war can ensue. But even in those cases, a player may already have made a firm decision over where they would rather go. The agent says: 'Usually, we will say to any other clubs, 'The player prefers to go somewhere else, but we'll keep you updated'. Sometimes, if a club is especially reluctant to sell, players might take extreme action to try to force through a move. That may include refusing to train or play, or something less extreme.' Matheus Nunes was an example of a player staying away from training when he looked to secure a move from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Manchester City in the summer 2023 window. Players who do that risk punishment from their clubs, most likely fines, but in almost every case the benefits of getting the sought-after move far outweigh the feasible sanctions. 'I have never encouraged a player to down tools,' says the agent. 'I know some players and agents do it, but I've always thought that's too much. You have to show some respect to the club that is paying the player's wages. 'We do sometimes put in a transfer request and find a way to make that public, to apply a bit of pressure, but that is as far as I would ever go.' Once all the financial aspects are agreed, the final stage of a transfer is the medical. Contrary to common belief, these do not provide a binary 'pass-or-fail' outcome. Instead, they are a series of tests designed to inform the buying club of any medical or fitness issues that might make their investment a greater risk. Sometimes, though, the results that come back can lead to a transfer being renegotiated, or even cancelled altogether. In 2020, defender Nathan Ferguson's move from West Bromwich Albion to Crystal Palace was called off, then revived on renegotiated terms, after his medical revealed knee issues. A minor concern in these circumstances might result in the buying club seeking a reduced fee to reflect the added risk, while a bigger problem might see them pulling the plug altogether. 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New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
The 12 Premier League players who need a transfer this summer
There is a long list of Premier League players who will make moves this summer. Plenty already have — from Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid to Liam Delap's switch to Chelsea. But who are the players crying out for a new club? Who is out of favour? Who needs a fresh start? Here, The Athletic has chosen 12 players who could benefit from moving clubs when the window opens up again on Monday. Let's start with 'Agent Chaos' himself. Last season, the Uruguayan striker became a Premier League champion with Liverpool, but his contributions on the field were limited. Nunez (top left) played 30 times in the league but only eight of those were as starts. He scored five times and assisted three goals. His late double at Brentford to secure three points was the highlight of his campaign, but it never felt like he had the backing of head coach Arne Slot. Advertisement He might have a bad miss in his locker, but Nunez should still appeal to clubs. He is a boisterous competitor and causes trouble up top. The 25-year-old might suit a club where he will be under less scrutiny, allowing him to relax into his football. Liverpool fans, it should be said, have loved his all-action play, despite his shortcomings. He will need to find a similarly accepting fanbase. Looking back, perhaps Grealish might wonder if he should have walked away after City's treble-winning 2022-23 campaign. He racked up nearly 3,500 minutes on the pitch that season but his impact has waned considerably, with 2,114 minutes in 2023-24 and 1,521 minutes last time out. The 29-year-old has even been left out of City's Club World Cup squad. Off the pitch and on it, the England international has swagger, and it would be good to see him tap into it again. His career has stalled, and he needs to shift himself back into gear. Another player who needs to leave Manchester. A loan to Aston Villa for the second half of last season was a different experience for Rashford (top right), the first time he had played for a team other than England and United since he was seven. Apart from some injury disruptions, the loan spell felt like a positive one. In 10 league games, Rashford scored twice and assisted three times, working out at a goal involvement every other game. For a long time, it seemed Rashford was destined to spend his entire career at United, but this feels like the perfect time for a new adventure. He made his United debut in February 2016 but at 27, there will be a team out there hoping his best attacking years are still ahead of him. There were moments last season during his loan spell at Arsenal from Chelsea when it seemed all of the football had been sucked out of Sterling. As Arsenal battled it out for a title that escaped them and reached the Champions League semi-finals, one big Sterling moment could have put his name in headlines. It did not work out that way. Advertisement Sterling did not provide a single goal across 17 matches in the Premier League. Now he is back at Chelsea, surely thinking through his next move. At 30, there is still plenty to give. Any club looking to sign Sterling will know he comes with trophy-winning experience. This year, Semenyo told The Athletic that he wants to play for the top clubs — 'any team that plays Champions League, Europa League'. This might be his summer to move. He is 25, extremely fast, a good dribbler and can finish off. There aren't many players in the league who make it difficult to guess which foot is their weakest. Who wouldn't want to add Semenyo to their attacking options? Last season, he scored 11 league goals and assisted five. He has the attributes to be even greater. It might be time for Nkunku to blow up his balloons elsewhere. Stamford Bridge has not been the kindest place for him to carry out his trademark celebration since he joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in 2023. If he wants to progress his career and start scoring more goals regularly, then his six-year contract at Chelsea might have to be cut short. Last season, he played 42 games for Chelsea, but it was a bit-part role. His goal tally (14) was respectable but only three came in the Premier League. Chelsea have recently signed another striker, Liam Delap, and it feels like the right time for Nkunku to take his skills and vision to a team who can make him their focal point. He has been around the game for so long that it might feel strange to read Broja is only 23. It has not worked for him at Chelsea, and his loan at Everton last season was also disappointing. This summer is the perfect time for Broja to move on and revive his career. Injury problems limited him to just 11 games for Everton's first team. He needs an injury-free run and a new club to show off the pace and power we have not really seen since his loan at Southampton four years ago. He has his own song to the tune of Sway by Dean Martin and a Premier League winners' medal, but Chiesa might need a new city to call home. The Italy international has said he is happy in Liverpool, but his career at the club has never got going. Injury troubles got in the way. The players ahead of him have also been in top form. He featured six times in the Premier League, one above the Premier League's threshold for a medal. Should he stick around, he will feel he has a lot to prove. A huge Liverpool fan, Elliott gives his all every time he is on the pitch — but fighting for minutes has been an ongoing battle. In Liverpool's title-winning campaign, Elliott contributed one goal and two assists in 18 games. During a rare start against Brighton & Hove Albion in May, he scored and assisted. This proved what he is capable of when given the opportunity. Advertisement Elliott was mostly used as an attacking midfielder or right winger, but Slot overlooked him for the biggest games. Liverpool had a settled midfield trio — Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch — and Mohamed Salah was in arguably the best form of his career. It was always going to be difficult for Elliott. Liverpool fans will not want him to leave permanently, so maybe a loan move would suit Elliott. At 22, he has an exciting career ahead. Ings started just one game in the Premier League for West Ham last season. He scored one goal as a substitute, one of 14 league games from the bench. Wherever he might move, a change of club would surely suit him. He has spent the past 12 years in the Premier League. At 32, this could be a good time for Ings to join a club abroad, experience something new. If he does not leave the United Kingdom, then dropping down a level and bringing his years of experience to a new group of players could be the perfect opportunity. With Newcastle looking to bring in James Trafford and keep Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka is likely to seek a move. He signed a contract extension in January but the arrival of Trafford would drop him down Eddie Howe's list even further. Instead, Dubravka can use the summer to find a new team and be the undisputed No 1 goalkeeper. A key player for Manchester City and Arsenal in the past, Zinchenko's career is stalling. The Ukraine international has fallen down the pecking order at Arsenal following the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly and the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori. Even the right-sided Jurrien Timber played ahead of Zinchenko at left-back last season. This summer feels like a good jumping-off point for the 28-year-old to rediscover regular playing time. Advertisement Mikel Arteta occasionally used Zinchenko in midfield last season, showing his versatility. He has the technical skill, game intelligence and willingness to perform wherever he is played. Is your team looking for a versatile player with bucket loads of passion? He can be that player. (Top photos: Getty Images)
