Jurgen Klopp, one of the most sought-after coaches in Europe, is to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season, sparking a frenzy of speculation over his future.
The charismatic German has long been linked with a move to the Premier League and The Guardian reports that he "received several inquiries for his services" as soon as news of his impending departure broke.
The 47-year-old will remain with Dortmund until the end of what has, so far, been a disappointing campaign. However, the club's on-field travails do not appear to have damaged Klopp's reputation.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
Klopp is still basking in the glow of his successes after he guided Dortmund to the Bundesliga title in 2011 and 2012, and took the club to the Champions League final in 2013. They were beaten in that game by domestic rivals Bayern Munich, who have done much to undermine Klopp's ambitions by signing two of his key players, Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski, in recent seasons. This season Dortmund have spent much of the campaign languishing in the lower reaches of the table and were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16.
So what are the chances of England's top clubs landing the German coach?
Arsenal: 5-1
Klopp has long been touted as the man best placed to succeed Arsene Wenger at the Emirates, and the rumours reached a crecendo earlier in the season as the Gunners fans began to turn on Wenger.
However, Arsenal have improved since then and, according to the Daily Telegraph, are more than happy to stick with Wenger, who has two more seasons left on his contract. "Klopp has been seen by some as a potential successor to Wenger but the timing of his reported departure from Dortmund means that there is no prospect of Arsenal now making any move for his services," reports Jeremy Wilson. "Arsenal have given thought to how they would deal with the succession to Wenger but that is only in their long-term planning and they believe that their manager is as committed, focused and driven as ever."
Another reason for Arsenal to steer clear could be that Klopp has the support of professional controversialist and Arsenal fan Piers Morgan, who called for the Gunners to drop Wenger in favour of Klopp on Twitter.
Manchester City: 11-10
The Premier League champions are the bookies' favourites to snap up the German. City have endured a dismal run under Manuel Pellegrini of late, culminating in their derby humiliation by Manchester United on Sunday. The Citizens' hopes of a second title are now in tatters and instead they face a fight to maintain their place in the top four.
The Daily Mirror reports that City's Abu Dhabi owners still harbour hopes of luring Pep Guardiola to the Etihad, but he is committed to Bayern Munich until 2016. "The reigning Premier League champions find themselves in a tough spot," says the paper. "Klopp is the calibre of manager that could convince them to scrap their Guardiola project."
Liverpool: 7-1
The Reds are another club who have been linked with Klopp in the past and the Daily Express says that Liverpool will be on "red alert" even though the current concensus is that despite a difficult season, Brendan Rodgers is at Anfield for the long haul and is secure in his job.
Manchester United: 12-1
It sounds unlikely given the backing that Louis van Gaal has been given at Old Trafford but the Manchester Evening News latches onto reports in Germany that "Klopp had not only requested that the club terminate his contract but that he had unsuccessfully asked to speak to an unnamed English club in April 2014".
That, notes the paper, coincides with the sacking of David Moyes. It adds that before Moyes's departure, Klopp was "the fans' favourite to replace the beleaguered Scot".
None of the above:
Klopp may follow in the footsteps of the man who has become his nemesis, Pep Guardiola, and take a sabbatical from the game. However, the prospect has divided opinion. The Guardian says he is "unlikely" to walk away from the game when he leaves Dortmund. However, the Mirror believes otherwise and says Klopp is likely to "take some time out of football".
Other clubs including Paris Saint Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid, who have all been through several managers in recent seasons, are also being tipped to move for him this summer.
Another intriguing possibility is that Klopp will take the reins of the German national team.
