Liverpool offer Jürgen Klopp contract extension after impressive start• German manager’s current deal at Anfield expires in 2018
• Fenway Sports Group wants him to build a new dynasty at the club
Liverpool’s parent company, Fenway Sports Group, has declared its long-term faith in Jürgen Klopp by offering the manager a new, extended contract.
The German has been in charge at Anfield for only nine months but the principal owner, John W Henry, the chairman, Tom Werner, and the FSG president, Mike Gordon, have already been so impressed that they are prepared to tie him down for several more years.
Klopp’s current deal expires in 2018, although there is an option for an extra year, but the owners want the 49-year-old to build a new dynasty at the club and are prepared to invest heavily in him as a person.
Klopp is already one of the highest-paid managers in world football because of his status and previous achievements, so there is unlikely to be any issue over the financial side of the deal.
What it does do, however, is give the German a greater understanding of the esteem in which he is held and provide him with a platform on which he can begin planning for the long term.
Klopp is the fourth manager in the almost six years of FSG’s reign at Anfield. They quickly dispensed with the man they inherited, Roy Hodgson, installing the former player and manager Kenny Dalglish, initially on a short-term basis.
The Scot was then handed a three-year deal and despite winning the League Cup and reaching the FA Cup final the next season, was sacked because of disappointing Premier League results.
Brendan Rodgers’ appointment led to them almost winning the league in his second season, which earned him a new four-year contract, but five months later he was sacked after a poor run of results.
The faith FSG is showing in Klopp, who guided the same squad Rodgers had to the Europa League final, far outweighs anything FSG has displayed in the past.
Meanwhile Liverpool have rejected a £25m bid for Christian Benteke from Crystal Palace. The club are looking to recoup most of the £32.5m they paid for the Belgium international less than 12 months ago. They are believed to be looking for £30m plus add-ons for the 25-year-old, who has failed to impress Klopp.
Benteke was the signing Klopp’s predecessor Rodgers pushed for last summer but after scoring seven goals in his first nine appearances he managed three in his last 23.
With Danny Ings back to full fitness after a cruciate knee ligament operation Benteke is even further down the pecking order with Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Ings and even the attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino ahead of him in terms of selection.
Guardian
