Liverpool close to appointing Klopp

Liverpool are close to appointing former Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp as their new manager on a three-year contract.

The Reds hope to complete negotiations by Thursday and name the 48-year-old German as Brendan Rodgers` successor by the end of the week.

Rodgers was sacked on Sunday following the 1-1 Premier League draw at Everton.

Klopp has asked to bring former assistants Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz as part of his coaching staff.

Bosnian Buvac, 54, and German Krawietz, 43, were key members of Klopp`s backroom team during his time at Dortmund.

Liverpool had also been considering former Real Madrid and Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, who is currently out of work.

But the 56-year-old Italian has suggested he may only return to management next season.

He said: "I enjoy my time now but, of course, I want to come back to manage - to work - because it is my passion.

"I want to take my time to rest, but next season I am ready."

Klopp guided the club to two Bundesliga titles before he departed this summer after a difficult domestic campaign in which they lost the German Cup final to Wolfsburg and finish seventh in the league.

Rodgers` former assistant Sean O`Driscoll, first-team coach Gary McAllister and development coach Pep Lijnders took training for Liverpool`s non-international players on Tuesday.

Ex-England Under-19 manager O`Driscoll and former Reds midfielder McAllister joined the coaching staff in the summer.

They were part of a backroom reshuffle which saw Rodgers` long-term assistant Colin Pascoe and another former player, Mike Marsh, leave the club.

Klopp is understood to have spoken to former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann about the club, the city and the fans.

When appointed, Rodgers` replacement will work within the existing structure and what has become known as Anfield`s `transfer committee`.

The international break means Liverpool`s next game is at Tottenham on 17 October.

They have won only four of their 11 games in all competitions this season, including victory on penalties against League Two Carlisle at home in the Capital One Cup.

Rodgers, who took over in June 2012, led the Reds to second place in the Premier League in 2013-14. -BBC