Liverpool are reportedly eyeing 63-year-old Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti to replace Jurgen Klopp.
According to Calciomercato, Premier League giants Liverpool have earmarked Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti to potentially replace Jurgen Klopp in the Anfield hotseat.
The German has turned around the Reds’ fortunes since replacing Brendan Rodgers in 2015. Not only has he broken the club’s Premier League jinx but also led them to every major trophy including the UEFA Champions League and the club’s first FIFA Club World Cup.
However, the 2022-23 season has been a disaster so far. Injuries notwithstanding, Liverpool have been knocked out of the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup while being miles away from contending for a top-four spot. With Real Madrid to come in the Champions League, life does not get any easier for Klopp and co.
Napoli, on the other hand, are the team to beat in Europe this season. They have a healthy lead at the top of Serie A and can also be expected to make a real punt at European glory. A young, exciting team that plays good football, the late Diego Maradona would certainly approve of the direction his former side is headed in and the style they are going about it.
The architect behind their success is Spalletti, who returned to management after a two-year hiatus. The 63-year-old appears to have channelled his earlier prowess and looks on course to not just end Napoli’s wait for a title but also land a third Serie A manager of the year award.
Jurgen Klopp’s transformation at Liverpool has hit its first major concern with the side needing a rebuild. That could appear to be on the agenda in the coming summer and is admittedly a year overdue. While the German had to pick up some of the blame, the truth remains that several of his players have simply not turned up this season.
Whether it be fatigue or form falling off a cliff, it shows on the field. While the Reds could court replacements, it is debatable if there is anyone better than Klopp to turn things around. Not only does the 56-year-old understand the club’s ethos, but he also is younger than Spalletti and is the ideal manager to rekindle diminished embers.
Spalletti is doing very well at Napoli but apart from a brief spell at AS Roma, one can argue that he has grossly underachieved. Klopp, on the other hand, has transformed the fortunes of every club he has been at.
The German does not appear to have lost any of his fire and remains committed to taking Liverpool back to the top. Borussia Dortmund commented once that they made the wrong decision to let go of Klopp and not the players. Liverpool will do well to heed that advice.
Spalletti is certainly an excellent coach and deserves the credit he gets, but isn’t what Liverpool need to muster a resurgence. Klopp is right now the most important member at Anfield and forms the foundations for the next great Liverpool team.
