Jurgen Klopp 'will return to management next season' if one European giant makes approach

Jurgen Klopp would cancel a scheduled sabbatical and return to management next season should one European giant be interested in his services.

In January the German stunned the football world by announcing he was set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, saying he was "running out of energy".

He explained: "It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again."

Klopp, who has won the Champions League and Premier League across nine years at Liverpool, admitted he planned to take a break from the game, adding that he would never manage another side in England.

He said: "If you ask me, 'Will you ever work as a manager again?' I would say now, no. But I don't know obviously how that will feel because I never had the situation.

"What I know definitely - I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent. That's not possible."

However, transfer guru Gerard Romero has claimed (via Anything Liverpool) that there is just one club that would see Klopp make an immediate return to management next season - Barcelona.

Romero alleged that the La Liga giants are the only club that could convince Klopp not to take a year-long holiday.

Klopp insisted he would not manage another team in England (Getty)

He added that having reportedly held conversations with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, Klopp is very keen on the managerial vacancy at Barcelona.

Current Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez also announced in January he would step down at the end of the season.

Xavi said the job has taken its toll and the time is right for him to step back for his mental health.

"In Barcelona, you always feel like you're not valued, you're mistreated - that's how the club works," he said.

"From a mental-health level, it's tough too. I am a positive guy, but the battery levels keep running out - and at some point, you realise there's no point in staying."

Topics: Football, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool, Premier League, Barcelona

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.