The German FA are planning to approach Jurgen Klopp after Julian Nagelsmann became Bayern Munich’s number one target to replace Thomas Tuchel.
Klopp is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season and has frequently been linked with the German national team job. The 56-year-old has always said he will take his time before deciding what to do next, having spent eight and a half tiring years with Liverpool.
“At this moment I don’t plan a further career as a manager,” he said before the Atalanta match last week. “Ask me in a year’s time, but now I don’t plan anything.” Klopp wants to recharge his batteries and take a sabbatical from the game, but that has not stopped the rumour mill from turning.
Germany is preparing for Euro 2024, which will be held in the country from June 14 to July 14, yet speculation over Nagelsmann’s future is rife. The 36-year-old coach took charge of the national team in September, replacing Hansi Flick, but only signed a deal until July 31.
He took the job after being sacked as Bayern Munich manager in March – yet a return to the club now appears likely. Tuchel is leaving the German giants at the end of the season and the announcement in February sparked a race to find his successor.
Nagelsmann has emerged as the favourite since Xabi Alonso decided he would stay with Bayer Leverkusen for another season after securing the club’s first ever Bundesliga title in his debut campaign. Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, Benfica’s Roger Schmidt and Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick are other options, but a return for Nagelsmann is top of the list for now, according to reports from Germany.
Nagelsmann’s departure after Euro 2024 would leave Germany needing a new boss and the FA believe they could land Klopp while respecting his desire for a break. One idea that has been put forward is to give Nagelsmann’s assistant Sandro Wagner the job on an interim basis before Klopp takes the reins in 2025 to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
Rudi Voller signed a new contract as director of the German FA last week and he is a big fan of the Liverpool boss. Back in 2020, Voller said: “I do believe that Jogi Low can still do it for a while, but at some point it will be Jurgen Klopp.”
Announcing his departure from Liverpool in January, Klopp said his decision had been taken because he was “running out of energy” and he also made it clear he wouldn’t speak about his future plans for the remainder of the campaign. He is unlikely to change his mind about taking a break – especially if he knows Germany will wait for him.
Source Daily Mirror
