Manchester United have put Jurgen Klopp at the top of the shop as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor.
United’s hierarchy are impressed by the job Klopp has done at Borussia Dortmund and he is the hot favourite to take over from Fergie when he decides to step down.
Klopp has shot to fame in the last couple of years by winning the Bundesliga twice and now taking Dortmund to the Champions League final, with their exciting brand of football destroying Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.
The Red Devils are not jumping on the Klopp bandwagon as he has been earmarked for some time, with insiders revealing it is openly discussed among Fergie’s staff that he is THE manager in waiting.
Ferguson has no immediate plans to retire after coasting to a 20th title success and is busily working on targets for next season - and even looking to bring in some new scouts for the next generation.
But Klopp has emerged as the man most suited to seamlessly step in for Ferguson when the time is right - with his work at Mainz and then Dortmund proving his pedigree.
United are hoping that Klopp is not snapped up by any other leading club while they wait for Ferguson to pick is exit date. It would be a major problem if he was a target for a move this summer.
Ferguson will have a big say in his own abdication - and is also a certainty to be consulted on the next manager. He has made no secret of his admiration for the 45-year-old German too.
Shrewd Fergie tipped Dortmund as possible winners of the Champions League long before they became fashionable - and beat Real Madrid in the semis.
Insiders believe Ferguson approves of Klopp as the kind of candidate who would be ideal to pass the reins too - and consult him if he stays on in some capacity as seems likely.
Klopp claims he is committed to Dortmund for next season despite losing a star player or two and that takes the pressure off any clash that would would mean United miss out in the short term.
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