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    Jurgen Klopp’s agent confirms manager’s plans after Liverpool exit with Bayern Munich job set to be available

    LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp plans to take a year out following his exit from the club. That’s according to his agent Marc Kosicke who told Sky Germany that the German doesn’t plan to take over any club or national team anytime soon.
    Jurgen Klopp will depart Liverpool this summerCredit: EPA
    The statement comes after Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich confirmed they will be parting ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season.
    Klopp was immediately linked with replacing him.
    The Liverpool chief has already stated he has no intentions of coaching another team in England following a successful nine year spell at Anfield.
    But since the announcement in January, he has found himself linked with vacancies at Barcelona and Germany but his agent insists he is going nowhere… for now.

    Klopp’s agent Kosicke said: “Jurgen Klopp will not coach any club or national team for a year after this current season.
    “That remains unchanged.“
    With Klopp having ruled himself out of Bayern Munich job, former player and current Bayer Leverkusen manager Xavi Alonso is favourite to land the job alongside Zinedine Zidane and former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
    Ironically, the vacancy coming up at Bayern could wreck Liverpool’s plans with it understood they are keen to appoint Alonso themselves.
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    Klopp first arrived to Liverpool back in November 2015 having replaced Brendan Rodgers in the dugout.
    Klopp was able to get the team to the Europa League final a couple of months later where they lost 3-1 to Sevilla.
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    Since then, he has returned the club to the top of the game, guiding them to a Champions League and Premier League trophy during his time.
    Signings including Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk have been key players during his tenure.
    Klopp has spent nine years at LiverpoolCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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    Eric Dier’s career in limbo as ‘doubts’ emerge over England star just 42 days after Bayern Munich transfer

    ERIC DIER’S Bayern career looks to be coming to an end already – just 42 days after he joined the German champions.The Bavarian club are in full-blown crisis after losing their last three games on the bounce.
    Dier is unlikely to have his contract extended by BayernCredit: Rex
    Thomas Tuchel, the manager that brought in both Harry Kane and Eric Dier from Spurs, has already been dismissed by the club with the German undergoing a stay of execution until the summer.
    Dier has made just five appearances so far and the club are understood to be concerned about his lack of “pace” and “ability” according to The Daily Mail.
    The deal to bring him to the Allianz was structured in an unconventional way, with the defender currently on a six month loan from Tottenham.
    But his contract with Spurs is up in the summer, meaning he will be a free agent when the loan expires.
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    Bayern have the option to extend the deal by a further 12 months in the summer but that looks unlikely to happen at this stage.
    Dier has surprisingly moved up the pecking order since his move to Munich, with Bayern also having Matthijs de Ligt, Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upemacano to choose from.
    Upemacano has been struggling of late, being sent off in his last two appearances for the club.
    Dier has previously credited Kane with helping him adjust quickly to life in Bavaria.
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    He said it was a “dream” to join Kane in Bayern although he did rule out lodging in Kane’s £30million mansion.
    But his “dream” move is increasingly becoming a nightmare with Bayern now eight points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the title race.
    Fans are only just realising what Eric Dier sounds like after fears Bayern Munich star had pulled a Steve McClaren,
    Their Champions League threads are also hanging by a thread after losing the first leg of their round of 16 clash 1-0 against Lazio. More

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    Thomas Tuchel snubs Premier League club despite soon-to-be-axed Bayern Munich boss being desperate to return to England

    THOMAS TUCHEL is not interested in managing West Ham despite being desperate for a Premier League return.The outgoing Bayern Munich boss has unfinished business with English football having been sacked by Chelsea in September 2022.
    Tuchel is not interested in taking the West Ham jobCredit: AP
    West Ham’s current boss David Moyes is out of contract at the end of this season and recent results have placed him under extra pressure.
    Some fans even want him out following a run of eight games without a win in which they have conceded 16 goals.
    Hammers’ chiefs are exploring possible options for a change of coach while remaining firmly behind Moyes for the immediate future.
    Tuchel will become a free agent in the summer after it was announced he will be leaving German champions Bayern at the end of this season.
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    But sources close to the German say Tuchel will only entertain ideas to manage at the biggest clubs in England.
    Liverpool are losing head coach Jurgen Klopp this summer and with new people on the board at Manchester United, manager Erik ten Hag is facing an uncertain future.
    Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is also under pressure with his team eighth in the Premier League despite the backing of Saudi billions.
    Tuchel managed Chelsea for a year and a half from January 2021 and won the Champions League and Club World Cup before helping the club through the most turbulent period in its history.
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    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced then club owner Roman Abramovich to sell the club amid strict financial sanctions imposed by the UK government.
    Americans Todd Boehly and sidekick Behdad Eghbali bought Chelsea for just over £2 billion in May 2022 and sacked Tuchel 100 days later following a 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb.
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    Graham Potter, Steve Cooper and Julen Lopetegui are all names also thought to be being considered by the West Ham hierarchy. More

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    Ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel desperate for Premier League return as he eyes Man Utd and Newcastle after Bayern exit

    THOMAS TUCHEL is desperate for a Premier League return.Bayern Munich on Wednesday announced former Chelsea chief Tuchel will leave the German club at the end of this season.
    Thomas Tuchel will leave Bayern at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
    Manchester United and Newcastle could both be looking for a new manager soon.
    And Tuchel — who led the Blues to the Champions League title in 2021 — would be interested.
    Tuchel was shown the exit door at Stamford Bridge in September 2022 and has told friends how much he has missed managing in England.
    The 50-year-old is leaving Bayern after a torrid spell.
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    The team have lost their last three games and are eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
    Bayern will battle Liverpool for Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who played for both clubs.
    Yet Tuchel only joined Bayern 11 months ago to replace Julian Nagelsmann and led the club to an 11th successive title.
    His contract was until 2025 but Bayern have struggled and — despite Harry Kane’s arrival — Sunday’s 3-2 loss at Bochum was another blow.
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    In a dig at the players, Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said: “Every individual at the club is called upon to achieve the maximum in the Champions League and Bundesliga.
    “I particularly emphasise the responsibility of the team.”
    Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel SQUARES UP to Antonio Conte in fiery Stamford Bridge scenes
    Tuchel said: “I will leave after this season. Until then, my team and I will do everything to ensure maximum success.”
    Next up for Bayern is a tricky game against RB Leipzig on Saturday as they look to avoid making it four defeats in a row. More

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    Xabi Alonso’s preference ‘revealed’ as Liverpool and Bayern Munich ‘make enquiries over Bayer Leverkusen boss

    XABI ALONSO is “more willing” to join Bayern Munich than Liverpool, according to reports.The Spanish head coach, 42, is bidding to lead Bayer Leverkusen to the first Bundesliga title in their history – with his club eight points clear of title rivals Bayern heading into the final 12 matches of the campaign.
    Xabi Alonso faces a tough decision this summerCredit: Getty
    But he is already being linked with an exit in the summer as two of Europe’s biggest clubs – both of whom he played for – circle for his signature.
    With Jurgen Klopp announcing he will leave Anfield at the end of the season, Alonso has been tipped to take over from the German.
    But Liverpool now face competition from Bayern after it was confirmed on Wednesday that boss Thomas Tuchel will depart in the summer.
    And according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Alonso is “more willing to join Bayern Munich instead of joining Liverpool”.
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    The reporter also went on to state that both clubs have “enquired” about bringing Alonso in.
    However, the ex-Spain midfielder remains focused on his job at Leverkusen.
    Alonso, who is unbeaten after 22 Bundesliga games this season, received a seal of approval from Klopp to replace him at Anfield.
    Last week, the outgoing Liverpool manager said: “Xabi is doing an incredible job.
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    “If there were not the rumours around, that’s completely independent, if you had asked me eight weeks ago about Xabi Alonso, I would have gone ‘Oh my God’.
    “The dinosaurs if you want, Ancelotti, Mourinho, Guardiola, maybe me, we will not do it – OK maybe Mourinho.
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    “But all the rest of us will not do it for the next 20 years. The next generation is already there and I would say Xabi is the stand-out in that department.”
    Alonso, who in the past has referred to managing Liverpool as a “dream”, spent five seasons at the Reds, playing more than 200 games and winning both the Champions League and FA Cup.
    After five years at Real Madrid, he then joined Bayern where he claimed three Bundesliga titles and the German Cup.
    But while he has history with both Liverpool and Bayern, he could yet opt to stay at Leverkusen.
    Alonso has a contract with the Bundesliga leaders until 2025. More

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    Zinedine Zidane ‘will only return to management for three jobs’ as Bayern Munich hunt new boss

    ZINEDINE ZIDANE will reportedly only return to management should three specific jobs become available.The Frenchman has been linked with the Bayern Munich post following the announcement that Thomas Tuchel will be stepping down.
    Zinedine Zidane will only manage one of three potential jobsCredit: Reuters
    Tuchel will leave Bayern at the end of the season, prompting the Bundesliga giants into a hunt for their next manager.
    Zidane, 51, along with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso have been spoken about as potential options.
    The former Real Madrid manager has been out of work since leaving the LaLiga giants in 2021.
    During his time as Bernabeu boss, he enjoyed enormous success winning the Champions League three times and the league twice.
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    Since becoming a free agent, Zidane has been tipped with moves to Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.
    However, Sport have claimed that only three jobs would interest Zidane in returning to the dugout.
    This includes Bayern, as well as his former side Juventus and the French national team.
    An insider told the outlet: “Zinédine sees FC Bayern like Real Madrid: an institution as a club with a great past and great working conditions.
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    “Both clubs have many similarities in the way they work.
    “In this respect, it was for him German record champions a topic that he never rejected.
    Zinedine Zidane cannot stop smiling as he hands Karim Benzema Ballon d’Or congratulates Real Madrid star
    “But he definitely doesn’t want to go to England, that’s for sure.
    “But if those in charge in Munich want to get him, they have to give him the sporting power and fulfill his wishes.
    “He is very ambitious and subordinates everything to success. He doesn’t want to leave anything to chance.”

    As revealed by the insider, Zidane has no interest in managing in the Premier League.
    This could rule him out as an option for Liverpool should they miss out on Alonso. More

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    Inside 12-man dressing room split at Bayern Munich after Tuchel is axed – with Harry Kane’s side revealed

    BAYERN MUNICH are in a 12-man dressing room split as Thomas Tuchel’s time at the Bundesliga giants falls apart.Tuchel has announced he will leave the club at the end of this season after a disastrous run of defeats.
    Thomas Tuchel will leave Bayern Munich in the summerCredit: AP
    The Bavarian side’s season is crumbling after three straight losses has left them eight points behind Bundesliga frontrunners Bayern Leverkusen and facing a potential exit from the Champions League.
    A 3-0 defeat in Leverkusen was followed by a 1-0 loss to Lazio last week, and they then suffered a shock 3-2 defeat away at VFL Bochum on Sunday. 
    Xabi Alonso is now understood to be Bayern’s top candidate to take over in the summer.
    And German outlet BILD has reported the dressing room at the Allianz Arena is divided as six players support the boss while the others are anti-Tuchel.
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    With fans wondering which side Harry Kane falls on after Tuchel revealed he was unhappy with the performances at Bayern, SunSport takes a look inside the divide…
    Anti-Tuchel
    According to BILD, the big name that stands out on this list is Bayern Munich icon Thomas Muller.
    The 34-year-old has spent his entire career at the German giants and in public has been very supportive of Tuchel.
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    But behind closed doors it’s a different story as the vice-captain does not fit Tuchel’s game plan.
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    This term Muller’s playing time has gone down and has been left out of the squad’s starting XI more.
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    Another star on the list is Joshua Kimmich whose relationship with Tuchel began to fall apart after the manager wanted to bring in a new No6 in the summer.
    The 26-year-old did not start against Leverkusen and was subbed off after 63 minutes against Bochum.
    And his team-mates had to hold him back after being involved in a spat with assistant boss Zsolt Low.
    Other stars falling into the anti-Tuchel box are Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Matthijs De Ligt and Mathys Tel.
    Thomas Muller is one of the players against Tuchel because of reduced game timeCredit: Rex
    Joshua Kimmich is also reported to be against the manager over a transfer talk in the summerCredit: EPA
    Pro-Tuchel
    Luckily for the boss, he still has players who back him.
    And for them, they probably remember that before the three defeats, Bayern Munich had only lost two Bundesliga games this term and were unbeaten in the Champions League.
    Harry Kane is one who stands by the manager after being persuaded to join the German side after Tuchel visited his house last summer.
    While his performance against Leverkusen was labelled as a “catastrophe” by BILD he has had a remarkable term overall.
    Harry Kane supports Tuchel who persuaded him to join Bayern in the summerCredit: EPA
    The England captain has scored 29 goals this term and now holds the record of most goals scored by a Bayern player in their debut season.
    Meanwhile, alongside Kane is captain Manuel Neuer who stands by Tuchel who stood by him during his time on the sidelines over a leg fracture.
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    Newbie Eric Dier is grateful to have been given a spot by Tuchel and has already made more appearances for Bayern (five) than he did all season for Spurs (four). 
    Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, and Raphael Guerrero complete the list of those in support of the boss.
    Captain Manuel Neuer also backs Tuchel because he stood by him during his injuryCredit: Rex
    Eric Dier is grateful for Tuchel giving him a chance at BayernCredit: Getty More

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    Bayern Munich already line up next manager after agreeing to part ways with Thomas Tuchel in summer

    XABI ALONSO is being lined up to replace Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich.Tuchel will leave the German giants at the end of the season after a disastrous run of fixtures.
    Thomas Tuchel is set to leave Bayern Munich at the end of seasonCredit: Reuters
    Alonso is the top managerial target for a host of top clubsCredit: Reuters
    Xabi Alonso and Thomas Tuchel embraced before their 3-0 title showdownCredit: EPA
    The German’s long-term position became untenable following three consecutive defeats – a first for Bayern since the Pep Guardiola days of 2015.
    His side was dismantled 3-0 by Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen last week, which threatened to end their 11-year reign as Bundesliga champions.
    They were then beaten 1-0 by Lazio in the Champions League last-16 first leg in Rome.
    The pressure increased on Tuchel after Sunday’s 3-2 loss at bottom-half Bochum left his side eight points behind Alonso’s Bundesliga leaders.
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    Alonso is now understood to be Bayern’s top candidate to take over in the summer.
    Facing a first trophyless season in 12 years, Bayern’s primary plan was to reach the end of the campaign with Tuchel and assess the situation.
    But it was confirmed on Wednesday that Tuchel will in fact leave at the end of this campaign.
    The former Chelsea boss said: “We have agreed that we will end our working relationship at the end of this season.”
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    In 44 matches as manager so far, he has won 28, drawn five and lost 11.
    Leon Goretzka has compared Bayern’s recent downturn “a horror movie that doesn’t stop.”
    Alonso,42,is in cruise control at the top of the league and is unbeaten in all competitions.
    The German giants will have to fight off some serious competition from Liverpool in order to employ his services.
    The Spaniard was tipped to replace Jurgen Klopp after the Reds manager dropped the bombshell that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. 
    Leverkusen chief Simon Rolfes claims he is “sure” Alonso will stay with the club despite interest from both sides.
    If they fail to nab Alonso, Bayern will consider three-time Champions League winner Zinedine Zidane.
    Meanwhile, rumours swirled that former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could come in as interim boss. More