Jurgen Klopp's former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders set for shock move to become Pep Guardiola's new No2
JURGEN KLOPP'S former assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders is set to become Pep Guardiola's new No2 at Manchester City.
Lijnders, 42, has been out of work since being sacked as RB Salzburg boss last December.
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The Dutchman had accepted the gig after leaving Liverpool at the same time as pal Klopp.
Lijnders had worked as the German's assistant over two spells across nine years.
He coached the Reds for many seasons as they battled with Guardiola's City for the Prem title.
According to The Times, Lijnders is now set to join his former rivals' coaching staff.
They claim that he will work closely with Guardiola following the exits of a trio of the Spaniard's backroom team.
Juanma Lillo and Inigo Dominguez have both left City, while Carlos Vicens has departed to take charge of Portuguese Europa League outfit SC Braga.
Lijnders was considered for the vacant Norwich City head coaching job earlier this month.
The Canaries sacked Johannes Hoff Thorup, and opted not to give the gig to caretaker boss Jack Wilshere full time.
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Lijnders was interviewed for the position, only for Norwich chiefs to choose Bristol City boss Liam Manning instead.
The former Anfield assistant is set to join up with City for next month's Club World Cup.
'I will quit' - Pep Guardiola gives Man City ultimatum over squad issue that is 'impossible for my soul'
Ex-City centre-back Kolo Toure was also considered for the role.
The Ivorian has been working with the club's Under-18s.
Toure, 44, has experience as a first team coach under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and Leicester.
While he was also briefly in charge of Wigan Athletic.
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