A report has claimed Jurgen Klopp might be about to enter his final season as Liverpool manager despite being under contract until 2026.
Klopp originally intended to leave Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season until he signed a new contract in 2022 to last until 2026. However, an update from Football Transfers has revealed an exit next year is still weighing on his mind.
The manager is said to be "frustrated at the lack of investment from FSG this summer," with the report pointing to their failure to back him for the transfer of Jude Bellingham.
Due to the costs of the deal, Liverpool walked away from a deal for the England midfielder, who went to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund instead. The Reds have since completed the signings of alternative targets like Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
But they are now facing similar concerns in their pursuit of Romeo Lavia after failing to meet the asking price set by Southampton.
And with Klopp believing he has "taken the squad as far as he can" in its current guise, he "is having serious doubts about his time with the club and whether he sees a future with them."
Targets that remain on his agenda for the current transfer window include a defensive midfielder to replace Fabinho and a new centre-back.
If Liverpool can satisfy those wishes and go on to enjoy a more successful season than last time out, Klopp might forget about leaving and remain committed. But there is still some uncertainty for the time being.
Thus, it is over to their owners to try and appease Klopp's remaining transfer demands. They are working hard to get his targets in as quickly as possible, but high valuations by other clubs have become an obstacle.
And the lack of Champions League football at Liverpool this season - even if any manager would have to accept some portion of responsibility for a factor like that - seems to have dampened Klopp's enthusiasm.
With Liverpool, he has won seven trophies and finished as the runner up in four other cup competitions. In charge since 2015, he is the longest-serving manager in the Premier League.
There is no implication he would turn his back on them just before the season begins, but he will have to work with what is provided him for what could be his final campaign on Merseyside after all.
The report provides no clues as to who Liverpool could replace him with. As for his own next step, links with the Germany job have been reiterated - even if Klopp himself recently played them down because of his contract situation.
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