'Jurgen Klopp to be announced on Friday' - what the papers say

Telegraph reporter Chris Bascombe is well connected up on Merseyside and he offers great optimism for Liverpool fans with the news that Klopp is on the verge of being announced as the club’s new manager. Indeed, there are no hints of any remaining stumbling blocks whatsoever.

Bascombe writes: "Klopp’s recruitment now looks a formality with negotiations expected to be completed over the next few days. The former Borussia Dortmund manager has no qualms about working within the existing club structure and it is understood that he will sign a three‑year deal. It is expected that he will head to Merseyside in the next 48 hours for further negotiations, with an announcement possible as soon as Friday.”

Interestingly, the Telegraph add that Klopp has been pursued on multiple occasions by Fenway Sports Group: “He was their dream choice on taking over the club as far back as 2010 but Klopp was out of their reach as he enjoyed his peak spell in German football. Liverpool wanted him again when Kenny Dalglish was dismissed in 2012 but were frustrated as Klopp remained loyal to Dortmund.”

Merseyside reported Andy Hunter seems convinced Liverpool will land their man, reporting that "Liverpool are confident of appointing Jurgen Klopp as their next manager and could install the 48-year-old as Brendan Rodgers’ successor by the end of the week. The club’s owner, Fenway Sports Group, moved swiftly to approach representatives of the former Borussia Dortmund coach after sacking Rodgers on Sunday. The initial talks have been encouraging for FSG, with indications Klopp will abandon a sabbatical to take the Anfield vacancy.”

However, a note of caution is sounded with the news that “the German’s acceptance of working with Liverpool’s transfer committee yet to be addressed – but Anfield officials are increasingly confident of securing Klopp’s services and doing so quickly.”

The Daily Mail pick up on the theme of the transfer committee and report that Klopp is “believed to have reservations” about the body which has resulted in some rather muddled transfer thinking at Anfield recently. As Ian Ladyman writes: “Liverpool have already met Klopp on more than one occasion and are aware the 48-year-old has reservations about the way players are recruited by Anfield's infamous transfer committee. Klopp has told Liverpool's Fenway Sports Group owners that he must have the final say on incoming players.”

However, the Mail are also confident Klopp will be installed shortly, with a “transatlantic board meeting via videophone on Tuesday” set to move things on. Furthermore, on the transfer issue, they add: “Klopp worked with a director of football at Dortmund and is comfortable with the continental style of recruitment. As such, he is happy to take advice on players, but will insist he has the final word.”

The Daily Mirror also says Klopp is happy to work with the current structure as long as he is given the final veto on the signing of any player. However, the German will not be given more financial freedom than Rodgers, as FSG stick to their budget and strategy to target younger players with a sell-on value.

David Maddock reports: “Klopp will be given the final veto on incoming players, but will also be expected to work within the financial structure which seemed eventually to bother Rodgers, and led to him complaining just before he was sacked that he faced a ‘permanent rebuilding job’. Klopp is used to such a system and has a reputation for developing talent into world-class stars, with names such as Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze and Marco Reus on his list. He has worked with a “transfer committee” at Dortmund and was happy – providing he had the final say.

The German, who won the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund ahead of Bayern Munich in 2011 and 2012, has long been mentioned as a possible contender to replace Pep Guardiola but the Independent has some interesting detail around why that chance has been passed up.

Simon Hughes writes: “Last week, it was suggested in the German media that Klopp was being considered by Bayern Munich as a potential replacement for Pep Guardiola should he choose to leave Bavaria next summer. Since, contract negotiations have begun between Bayern and the Catalan and although both Manchester clubs in England would like to appoint him in the future, it now seems as though he will remain in Germany for at least another 18 months. Klopp would not be willing to wait for so long and now his thoughts are with Liverpool.”

Times reporter Tony Barrett is an astute and authoritative voice when it comes to Merseyside clubs and his steer from Liverpool is that Klopp is set to land a three-year contract. However, there could be changes behind the scenes as Rodgers’ assistants sweat on their jobs.

As Barrett explains: “A three-year contract is understood to be under discussion, with Klopp informing Liverpool of his desire to bring Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz, two of the most senior members of his coaching staff, with him to Anfield. That move would increase the likelihood of Sean O’Driscoll and Gary McAllister, Liverpool’s assistant manager and first-team coach respectively, following Rodgers out of the club.”