Liverpool-linked manager 'has doubts about replacing Jurgen Klopp'

Two months on from letting the Reds hierarchy know, Klopp shocked the footballing landscape in January, announcing that he would be stepping down from his post at the end of the season.

Klopp's departure will close a glittering nine-year chapter on Merseyside, during which time the ex-Borussia Dortmund boss has guided Liverpool to Premier League title number one and Champions League crown number six.

The Reds could still end Klopp's farewell campaign with another trio of medals as they vie for success in the Premier League and Europa League, having already overcome Chelsea en route to becoming EFL Cup winners in February.

However, with just over two months to go until the end of the season, Fenway Sports Group are accelerating their pursuit of a new first-team manager after convincing ex-Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards to return as their new CEO of Football.

Julian Nagelsmann 'unwilling' to step into Klopp's shoes

With Edwards now on the FSG books again, Liverpool brought in Richard Hughes from Bournemouth to become their new sporting director, and hiring Klopp's successor is now the owners' top priority.

However, after Xabi Alonso confirmed that he would be staying put at Bayer Leverkusen for another year, The Telegraph reports that another candidate has now ruled himself out of the running.

Germany head coach and former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann could supposedly turn down the chance to step into the Anfield dugout, in spite of the fact that he could be without a job heading into next season.

The 36-year-old is only under contract with the German national team until the conclusion of Euro 2024, and the DFB may not see fit to extend his terms if Die Mannschaft fail to live up to expectations at the home tournament.

Nevertheless, Nagelsmann is apparently reluctant to take the reins from compatriot Klopp and is 'unwilling' to take on the huge pressure of succeeding one of the most successful managers in the club's history.

The former RB Leipzig boss is unlikely to be short of job prospects if he does end up making a swift exit from Germany, as Barcelona will be on the hunt for a new head coach when Xavi departs, while a sensational return to Bayern cannot be ruled out due to Thomas Tuchel's imminent exit.

Where does Nagelsmann's rejection leave Liverpool?

While Nagelsmann was never thought to be a serious contender for the Liverpool job, the German's impressive CV at such a young age naturally led to rumours swirling, in addition to his uncertain future with the national team.

However, with the 36-year-old ostensibly out of the picture, Liverpool are back down to their two purported favourites, Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim and Brighton & Hove Albion's Roberto De Zerbi.

Both men would cost just north of £10m to prise away from their current teams owing to release clauses in their contracts, but Liverpool are now understood to have taken a step back from pursuing De Zerbi, whose Brighton side lost 2-1 to Klopp's crop at the weekend.

As a result, Amorim appears to be the outright favourite at this stage, and the Sporting boss has refused to directly rule out a switch to Liverpool in recent days, although Barcelona are also lurking.