Ruben Amorim speaks out on Liverpool job links

Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim has refused to comment on suggestions he could become the next manager of Liverpool.

The Reds are on the lookout for a successor to Jurgen Klopp after he announced his decision to stand down at the end of the 2023/24 season.

90min reported earlier this month that Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso - who spent five years at Anfield as a player and was part of the team to win the 2005 Champions League - is the leading contender to replace Klopp.

Also on their seven-man shortlist is Amorim, who has long been tipped to move to the Premier League having done a fine job in Portugal with Sporting.

Ahead of Sunday's thrilling 3-3 draw away at Rio Ave, Amorim was asked about the possibility of heading to Liverpool.

"I'm not going to dwell on my future, I've already said what I had to say," Amorim told Record. "Every time I talk about it the topic comes up again. I just want to beat Rio Ave and then we'll see."

In addition to Liverpool, Amorim has also been linked to the soon-to-be vacant post at Barcelona ahead of Xavi's exit.

Amorim ended Sporting's 19-year wait for a Portuguese title in 2021 and has made them a competitive outfit in European competition again, knocking Arsenal out of last season's Europa League at the last 16 stage before falling to Juventus in the quarter-finals. They also took four points off Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League group stage, though only finished third.

Along with Amorim and Alonso, 90min understands the other managers on Liverpool's radar are Brighton & Hove Albion's Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou, Germany's Julian Nagelsmann, Aston Villa's Unai Emery and Benfica's Roger Schmidt.

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