After it was confirmed that Jürgen Klopp is high on Real Madrid’s wish list for a new manager, and that the German is considering taking the role, a report claims that he has given the club a list of six players he wants to sign this summer, while another five stars could be forced out of the Bernabeu.
Klopp left Liverpool after almost nine years at the helm in May 2024, hinting at the time that the Reds would be his last managerial role in club football. And although he has since become Red Bull’s global head of football, Klopp is now being heavily linked with the Real Madrid job, which became vacant this week when Xabi Alonso was brutally sacked after just eight months at the helm.
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Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg has already installed Jürgen Klopp as the favourite to take the job. The former Reds boss is “fascinated” by the role, the club and “seriously tempted” to accept their offer.
Now, with speculation that Klopp will be the next man at the helm to kick into high gear, reports in Spain have already begun to speculate about what a Klopp team at the Bernabeu would look like.
As a result, reports in Spain claim that Klopp “requires a lot of changes” if he is to come to Real Madrid and wants “the addition of two new faces” in central defence.
And it is claimed that Klopp wants Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano as one of them, although his second choice, Marc Guehi, has already been taken off the table after the England defender is on the verge of signing for Manchester City in a deal worth £20 million and £300,000 a week.
Klopp also wants to improve the left-back, with Bournemouth’s Alex Jimenez as his target, and he also wants at least one new midfielder, with both Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes and Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller on his wish list.
In attack, it is reported that Klopp wants a new right winger, with the addition of Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi recommended.
However, there will also be departures, with five players said to be on “thin ice” at the Bernabeu.
With many expected changes to the squad, it is reported that the German has already decided that Ferland Mendy and David Alaba will pack their bags, while in midfield are Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos two players for whom it is claimed that “patience has run out”.
Former Manchester City player Brahim Diaz is another who is reportedly on the dismissal list if Klopp comes in as manager.
Why Real Madrid want Jürgen Klopp as manager revealed.
As for Klopp, sources can confirm that Florentino Perez and his board feel they need to hire someone capable of leading their star names – and that will be a crucial factor in their next appointment.
Klopp fits that profile, and we are informed that intermediaries have been made aware of the interest, with due diligence underway.
Perez and other members of Madrid’s hierarchy also quickly realized within weeks of Alonso’s arrival that there were problems.
That is why Perez and his hierarchy decided that a quick departure in January was necessary to be able to consider their options.
As for Klopp, the former Liverpool boss is very happy with his role as boss of Red Bull, but it is believed that taking charge of one of Spain’s two big ones – Madrid and Barcelona – is something he has always wanted.
In a statement on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano confirmed: “There are people at Real Madrid who really appreciate Klopp.
“The first step has to be for Klopp to decide that he wants to go back to coaching. If he makes it public, then yes, he would be an option for Real Madrid in the summer.
For the moment, Klopp remains focused on his role at Red Bull and has made it clear that the Xabi Alonso situation is not linked to him.”
According to Plettenberg, as on social media earlier this week: “Jurgen Klopp is a candidate for the head coach position at Real Madrid, if the club decides to hire a new manager in the summer. As revealed on December 11 and confirmed again.
Understand that despite Klopp’s long-term contract with Red Bull and his strong identification with the Red Bull project, Real Madrid has a great appeal for him. If Real were to make a serious move, Klopp would consider it seriously.”
In a follow-up post on Thursday, Plettenberg revealed the German’s strong thoughts on a return to leadership.
He wrote: “Jurgen Klopp is seriously considering a return as head coach if Real Madrid take a concrete step for the summer, as exclusively revealed. Real Madrid has always fascinated him.
He is happy at Red Bull and has a strong identification with the Red Bull project, but there are at least two projects he would return for if EVERYTHING fits: Real Madrid and the German national team. Klopp and Real Madrid – one to watch for the summer of 2026.”
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Another name that has been mentioned as a potential coach at the Bernabeu is Mikel Arteta, and while he also has admirers at the Bernabeu, we can reveal that the Arsenal manager has no plans to quit and plans to remain loyal to the Gunners as he approaches the final 18 months of his contract at the Emirates Stadium.
Meanwhile, sources have informed us that Real Madrid are following Jacobo Ramon’s development at Como closely, and that they are in a strong position to sign him due to interest from Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle.
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