Liverpool drop huge hint over Jurgen Klopp successor as major hiring clue spotted

Liverpool have dropped a major clue about who could succeed Jurgen Klopp as manager.

On Friday Klopp made the shock announcement that he will step down from his position as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.

The German coach explained that he needs to step away from the club after nine years in the dugout as he is "running out of energy."

With Klopp's backroom team leaving with him and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke departing Anfield after the January transfer window closes, the next few months promise to be extremely busy for club chiefs.

Now it looks like Liverpool's hunt for a new sporting director has given a major clue about who will replace Klopp as manager.

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham's technical director Tim Steidten has emerged as a top candidate to replace Schmadtke as sporting director at Anfield.

The Mail claims that Liverpool have not approached the Hammers, as doing so during a transfer window would be considered bad etiquette. However, West Ham are reportedly bracing themselves to potentially lose Steidten less than a year after he joined the club.

If Liverpool do hire Steidten, then it would be a massive indication that they want Xabi Alonso to succeed Klopp as manager.

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Alonso, who played for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009, is currently in charge of Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen. The Spaniard worked with Steidten at the German club, with the sporting director responsible for signing several of the stars who are powering their title bid, including German wonderkid Florian Wirtz.

Before Leverkusen Steidten worked at Werder Bremen, where he signed a young Kevin de Bruyne on loan from Chelsea back in 2012 and Serge Gnabry from Arsenal in 2016.

Alonso and Steidten have a good relationship, and it's understood that the incoming sporting director - whoever that turns out to be - will be involved in picking the next manager.

Liverpool are considering other sporting director candidates, including Richard Hughes of Bournemouth.

Topics: Liverpool, West Ham United, Jurgen Klopp, Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso, Premier League

Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton is a Sports Trends Writer at SPORTbible. He has previously worked with publications including the Manchester Evening News, GOAL and BBC Sport. He is a football fanatic, but also dabbles in tennis and American football. He enjoys running, cooking and watching non-league football.

@alex_brotherton