'Excellent' manager on Liverpool shortlist suddenly becomes available

Liverpool are experiencing a tough second season under Arne Slot.

The Dutchman arrived from Feyenoord following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season as a replacement for Jurgen Klopp. And Slot could not have got his Anfield career off to a better start - winning the Premier League title in his first season in charge.

Sporting director Richard Hughes then backed the tactician with £450m worth of new signings in the summer transfer window.

British record deals were concluded for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak - while big money also went on Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike and others.

But this season hasn’t gone as expected.

Liverpool struggling under Arne Slot this season

The Premier League champions are in a fight just to requalify for the Champions League and Slot has been unable to integrate his new signings with any kind of style or consistency.

Only a handful of top-flight matches have been won since September - leading to speculation that Richard Hughes and his FSG paymasters may make a change in the dugout.

Slot, 47, is only contracted until 2027 - meaning the club would not have to pay a fortune in compensation.

While the Reds remain in the hunt for a Champions League place it’s unlikely they will sack Slot - but expect his position to come under review in the off-season.

And while Xabi Alonso is widely seen as the fan favourite to arrive as Slot’s replacement - another name who originally appeared on the club’s post-Jurgen Klopp shortlist has now come available.

De Zerbi leaves Marseille

Roberto De Zerbi, 46, won the plaudits at Brighton before departing for Marseille in Ligue 1.

The Italian guided l’OM to second place in the French top flight last season - behind only Paris Saint-Germain but saw his tenure come to an end on Tuesday after 19 months in charge.

A lot of the tactician’s good work has been unravelled in the last few weeks - owing to a calamitous elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Club Brugge and a 5-0 hammering by PSG in Le Classique at the weekend.

Marseille issued a statement confirming that a mutual decision had been taken - with De Zerbi now very much on the market.

It was reported back in 2024 by James Pearce that RDZ was under consideration by FSG’s decision-makers before Slot was given the task of replacing Klopp.

Could Liverpool move back in for RDZ?

Moreover in a report by Melissa Reddy it was revealed that Liverpool higher-ups considered De Zerbi an "excellent" manager. The trusted Liverpool reporter also posted on X that Richard Hughes was a fan of the former Milan midfielder.

Concerns over his playing style - and compatibility with Liverpool - scuppered any chance of his appointment according to Pearce. But his body of work stands up to scrutiny - even if his spell at Marseille ended in disappointment.

He won’t come with a compensation package to be agreed and therefore could work as a successor without any financial baggage attached.

It’s clear Liverpool liked De Zerbi once upon a time and now - like fellow contenders Alonso and Ruben Amorim - he is unexpectedly back on the market.

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