Ruben Amorim: Sporting CP boss denies reports of Liverpool agreement - 'There was no interview'

Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim insists he has not met Liverpool for talks, following reports he has a verbal agreement in principle to succeed Jurgen Klopp as manager.

Sky Germany claimed earlier this week that a three-year contract had been discussed, but sources close to the club described the reports as “wholly inaccurate."

Klopp will leave Merseyside this summer after nine years in charge and Amorim is the current favourite to replace the German, who could yet bow out with Premier League and UEFA Europa League titles, having already won the Carabao Cup.

Sporting are also on course for a successful season as they have a four-point lead at the top of the Primeira Liga, having played a game more than second-placed Lisbon rivals Benfica, while they also have a domestic cup final to look forward to.

Speaking ahead of their game at Gil Vicente on Friday, Amorim strongly denied any talks with Liverpool and insisted he was only focusing on his current job.

"This is the last time I’ll talk about my future,” he told a press conference.

"There was no interview [with Liverpool], let alone an agreement reached. The only thing we all want here is to be champions for Sporting and nothing will change.

"I’ll say it again, I’m the Sporting manager, there’s been no interview with any club, there’s been no agreement with any club.

"So I’m only focused as always on defending my club and since I don’t have anything else to say, there will be no interviews, there will be no agreements with the manager of Sporting. So this matter has been resolved."

Liverpool were widely reported to be targeting Xabi Alonso as their first choice to succeed Klopp, before the club’s former midfielder committed to Bayer Leverkusen for at least another season.

Alonso told TNT Sports in an exclusive interview this week that "there were many reasons" he decided to stay in Germany.

"The season has been great so far, and for sure we want to keep having this thing together," he said.

"I felt part of it. After one year, it didn't feel like the right timing, and that's why I'm committed."

Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi and Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann have also been linked with the Anfield role.

Liverpool host Atalanta for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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