David Ornstein says another manager may be out of the running for the Liverpool job

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool’s search for a new manager got very interesting this weekend, as Xabi Alonso ruled himself out.

Alonso had long been seen as the ideal choice to take over from Jurgen Klopp. However, the 42-year-old ‘surprised’ the football world by instead opting to stay at Bayer Leverkusen.

As a result, Liverpool have been left to assess the remaining options. That isn’t the end of the world and the Reds won’t panic. But it’s hard to spot a standout amongst those left in the mix.

So far, the favourite has appeared to be Sporting’s Ruben Amorim, with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi not too far behind.

However, speaking to NBC Sports today, journalist David Ornstein has poured a little cold water on one of those men ultimately taking the job.

Liverpool narrowing manager search

Ornstein is often very well connected in these matters, so his words are always worth listening to.

“Where do Liverpool go next?” posed the journalist. “They do have multiple candidates. Who will be brave enough to be the person to replace Klopp.”

Delving into the options available, Ornstein claimed the he ‘doesn’t think’ Liverpool will decide to hire De Zerbi from Brighton.

“Roberto De Zerbi would be brave enough to do so but I don’t think it’s going to be him,” he reports.

“Ruben Amorim of Sporting Lisbon is definitely in the mix, one of the contenders, but to my understanding, not the standout yet because there is no favourite as I understand it. He has a release clause in his contact, so does De Zerbi, so that’s not easy.”

READ MORE: Why Roberto De Zerbi should not be in the running to be Liverpool’s new manager

Who could Liverpool hire instead

For many Liverpool fans, they will be stepping into the unknown here. Alonso would have been a gamble of a hire, for sure, but he was at least familiar to supporters,

De Zerbi is too having managed in the Premier League for the last 18 months. According to Liverpool legend Steve Nicol, his experience in England should actually make him the front-runner for the job.

Even Amorim has some semblance of familiarity, after coaching in the Champions League and Europa League in the past.

But other names supposedly on the list – like Thiago Motta of Bologna or Lens’ Franck Haise – are perhaps completely unheard of to many. This search just keeps on getting more interesting. Maybe we should prepare to expect the unexpected.