Surprise Liverpool manager target breaks silence on Anfield links
Liverpool
Surprise Liverpool manager target breaks silence on Anfield links
Ex-Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac linked with Liverpool job recently
Reds still looking for a successor to the outgoing Jurgen Klopp
Croatian has commented on suggestions he could take over at Anfield
By Sean Walsh
Apr 17, 2024
Kovac has been tipped to take the Liverpool job
Kovac has been tipped to take the Liverpool job / Cathrin Mueller/GettyImages
Niko Kovac has shut down talk of him potentially replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Former Bayern Munich boss Kovac has been linked with a move to Anfield in recent days, with the Reds still on the hunt for a successor to Klopp.
However, the Croatian insists these reports are wide of the mark and he has not held talks with Liverpool about becoming their new manager.
"There's always a lot written about it, but there's nothing to it," he told Sportkrone.
FC Bayern Muenchen v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Second Leg
Kovac's Bayern lost to Klopp's Liverpool in 2019 / Stefan Matzke - sampics/GettyImages
Kovac has been out of work for a month after being sacked by Wolfsburg late into his second season in charge, with ex-Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl replacing him at the Volkswagen Arena.
He's best known for his spell in charge of Bayern between 2018 and 2019, during which Liverpool dumped the Bavarian giants out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage on their way to a sixth European Cup. Shortly prior to his departure from the Allianz Arena, Kovac's Bayern recorded a memorable 7-2 win away at Tottenham Hotspur.
Prior to that, Kovac made his name in club management with Eintracht Frankfurt, ending their 30-year trophy drought with victory in the 2018 DFB-Pokal, beating Bayern in the final in his last match in charge before heading down to Bavaria.
Kovac's managerial career began with Croatia's Under-21 squad in 2012, before taking over as head coach of the senior team between 2013 and 2015, notably leading them at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. They were eliminated at the group stage.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are still identifying managerial targets to interview, and sources have told 90min they would like to speak to three candidates before deciding on a finalist. Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim is currently the leading contender.
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England
How England should lineup with Cole Palmer at Euro 2024
Palmer scored four goals against Everton on Monday
He is the top scorer in the Premier League
The attacking midfielder is expected to make the Euro 2024 squad
By Jack Gallagher
Apr 17, 2024
Palmer has played his way into the England team
Palmer has played his way into the England team / Alex Pantling/GettyImages
Cole Palmer's four goals in Chelsea's thumping 6-0 win over Everton notably excited England fans ahead of Euro 2024.
The young Chelsea star's fantastic form has deservedly placed in him contention for a place on the plane to the Euros this summer, with many citing his 29 goal contributions in the Premier League this season - the most in the division - as a reason for Palmer to earning a starting jersey at the tournament.
However with England's current golden generation being rather top heavy, how would he fit into the starting XI?
We at 90min have taken a look (you're welcome Gareth Southgate)...
Fitting in everyone
Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden
England are well-stacked in attack / Catherine Ivill/GettyImages
Bellingham - Rice
Saka - Palmer - Foden
Kane
The lineup you've seen doing the rounds on social media, and the lineup which (on paper at least) looks pretty damn good.
With this set-up, Southgate would be able to get most of the Three Lions' attacking stars onto the pitch and keep critics who have regularly called him out for being 'too negative'.
In appeasing his critics however, Southgate would in turn leave his defence completely high and dry.
Declan Rice would be the only midfield shield in front of a likely partnership of Harry Maguire and John Stones at the back - and considering the fact that one of those centre-backs is Harry Maguire, that probably isn't enough.
The Saka-less team
Bukayo Saka
Is Saka's spot in danger? / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Alexander-Arnold - Rice
Palmer - Bellingham - Foden
Kane
So in order to some defensive solidity and also get Palmer into the starting XI, does Southgate have to drop someone?
The answer: yes, obviously.
Who that player that should be sacrificed isn't as obvious though.
Harry Kane, the England captain and a forward who has scored 39 goals in all competitions this season, definitely won't be the player who is sacrificed. And it's hard to imagine that Jude Bellingham - the best player in Spain this season - or Phil Foden - the best player in England this season - will be dropped either.
So, by process of elimination, that leaves Bukayo Saka as the forward who'd have to be dropped.
Arsenal's 'Starboy' is undoubtedly one of the best players in the Premier League but, if we're being brutal here (which we are), Saka's recent form doesn't hold a candle to Palmer's.
In his last six games, Saka has bagged two goal contributions.
In the same period, Palmer has managed a fairly ridiculous 14.
Based on that, right now, we have to give the nod to Palmer.
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Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham reveals why he joined Real Madrid over Liverpool & Man City
Jude Bellingham spoke ahead of facing Man City in the Champions League
Real Madrid won 2023 transfer battle over Liverpool & Man City
"I had conversations with other teams but it was a no-brainer really"
By Jamie Spencer
Apr 17, 2024
Jude Bellingham is thriving at Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham is thriving at Real Madrid / Alex Livesey/GettyImages
Jude Bellingham has explained that joining Real Madrid last summer was motivated by the "project" that was presented to him and everything the club represents, turning down the chance to sign with other European giants in the process.
Liverpool and Manchester City were most keenly pursuing Bellingham alongside Madrid last season, but it was the latter who convinced him to pick them and a €134m transfer was sealed in June.
"I had conversations with other teams but when Madrid came in it was a no-brainer really," the England midfielder said ahead of facing City in the Champions League this week.
"The size of the club, the project, the plan going forward, the chance to play with such amazing players: I just jumped at it. That's why I made my decision.
"There are countless things I could name about the club. I feel grateful every time I go into training and wear the badge on the chest."
Jude Bellingham
Bellingham is in 2024 Ballon d'Or contention / Visionhaus/GettyImages
90min reported shortly after the 2022 World Cup that Bellingham's own decisions were key to resolving his future. The first choice he had to make was whether to leave Borussia Dortmund in 2023 or not. Madrid, Liverpool and City had also confidently presented their respective pitches to him. City were hopeful given the appeal of working with Pep Guardiola, who had just agreed a contract extension until 2025 at the time, while Liverpool believed Jurgen Klopp was a similar lure.
Madrid's pull was Carlo Ancelotti and the way that he has successfully moulded Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Aurelien Tchouameni and others from promising youngsters into world class players.
Liverpool later pulled out of the race, with Dortmund's asking price beyond they were willing to pay. That left Madrid and City in competition for his signature, while Dortmund retained hope they could agree a new contract with a fair release clause to keep him for at least another year, but a meeting in early May between Bellingham’s father and Madrid chief scout Juni Calafat proved decisive.
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