Jurgen Klopp’s return to football management appears to be imminent, with the Liverpool legend set to take over the reins of the Germany national team.
The 59-year-old has fully enjoyed his two years out of the daily grind of running a club, but has clearly missed being on the touchline to some degree.
International football could provide Klopp with a happy halfway house, and with Julian Nagelsmann stepping down on Friday following a disastrous World Cup campaign, the former Liverpool boss is odds-on favourite to step in.
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For Liverpool, that could be good news. Klopp will surely improve Florian Wirtz and turn him into the star his transfer fee suggests he should be. But as well as giving his old club a boost, Klopp could also make them look rather silly and develop former transfer target Kennet Eichhorn into a world-class talent in midfield.
Klopp will make Liverpool pay for Kennet Eichhorn failure
After seeing him break through as a 16-year-old with Hertha Berlin, Liverpool pushed hard to sign Eichhorn this summer.
However, though it had looked like the Reds were leading the way at one stage, Bayer Leverkusen ultimately sealed the deal for a reported €10m.
That was a blow to Liverpool at the time, with Richard Hughes going out of his way to try and secure a player who is seen as one of the biggest talents in world football in his position.
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But if Klopp arrives at Germany, as seems highly likely, the impact of losing out on Eichhorn could be even greater.
The teenager will not be involved immediately, of course, but as he always did at Liverpool, Klopp will already be looking towards the next generation of German talents.
Eichhorn currently leads the way in that bracket, and, now with a Bundesliga side, he will surely kick on in the coming season. Liverpool’s loss looks likely to be Klopp, Germany and Leverkusen’s gain.
Liverpool will keep tracking Eichhorn
Although they missed out on signing him for a very cheap fee at the beginning of his career, Liverpool will no doubt keep a watch over Eichhorn’s progress.
If he does develop as expected, and Klopp helps take him to the next level on the international stage, there is no reason they cannot return in a year or two.
What impact do you see Jurgen Klopp joining Germany having on Florian Wirtz?
Surely it can only be good news for Liverpool!
Leverkusen was a good move for Eichhorn, but the 2024 Bundesliga champions have already sold their best player to Liverpool once in Wirtz, there is no reason they would not do it again if the price is right.
For Klopp, he has stated his dream of managing at a World Cup during this summer’s tournament. If he is to do that after being appointed this summer, then he is clearly in it for at least four years.
That could see him really leave his mark on the young Eichhorn, helping to mould him into a player who could potentially become a star at Liverpool.
This one may sting in the short-term, and Jurgen may make that worse, but the long-term benefit may still be there for Liverpool.
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