28 January 2024 , 02:00
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Following the bombshell news that manager Jurgen Klopp will be stepping down at the end of the season, Liverpool are preparing for some major changes.
The Reds have not made a single signing in the January transfer window and, with less than a week to go before the window slams shut, it seems highly unlikely there will be any incomings at Anfield.
Instead, much of Liverpool's planning is focused on trying to end the season strong, with the club still competing for four trophies, and how they can replace their talismanic manager. A number of names have already been linked with the role, but Liverpool are keen to appoint a new sporting director first.
And with all that in mind, Mirror Football takes a look at the latest news and rumours coming out of Anfield
Beier interest
According to Bild, Liverpool are one of several clubs interested in signing Hoffenheim forward Maximilian Beier.
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It is claimed that Beier has a €32.5million (£27.7m) release clause in his contract which will become active at the end of the season and that Brentford, Everton and Burnley are also monitoring the 21-year-old.
Brentford are said to have made an approach for Beier this month, but the player was not interested in a January transfer as he is aware of the interest from other clubs and wants to wait until the summer to make a decision.
Hoffenheim star Maximilian Beier is attracting interest from Liverpool (Markus Gilliar/Getty Images)Klopp's transfer agreement
Although Klopp's time at Anfield will be coming to an end this year, he will leave Liverpool in a very strong position for the future as a result of some impressive transfer business.
In his last major spending spree over the summer, Klopp completely revamped Liverpool's midfield with the purchases of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch. And, following the news of his impending departure, details of an unwritten agreement Klopp has with all his new signings has re-emerged.
"When we have this agreement, everything was fine, everything was good, that's why we talked, that's why we signed you, but from now on I expect much more," he explained in 2020. "For that, he gets more than he ever got before: more attention, more education, hopefully better training – that's a clear agreement.
"If he is not happy with one of these parts, he can come to me and tell me, 'You told me that, it didn't happen'. If I am not happy with one of the things he agreed, I will go to him and tell him, 'You said this and that, you didn't do that – why?' This is a clear deal, but a handshake deal, not written down."
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has been tipped to replace Klopp (Getty)Alonso tipped to replace Klopp
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is among the leading candidate to take over from Klopp next summer, with his ex-teammate Jamie Carragher believing him to be the "front-runner".
"W e've got to be looking forward to the new man coming in, get behind him and support him," Carragher told Sky Sports. "Bill Shankly left, Bob Paisley left, Kenny Dalglish left and Liverpool moves on.
"You can't get away from Xabi Alonso because he's so respected at Liverpool already for what he did as a player – he's a Champions League winner, held himself with real class, he's a World Cup winner. Right now, the job he's done at Bayer Leverkusen, he looks like the brightest young thing in European football. It certainly makes him the front-runner."
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